Page 38 - Air Pollution

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Delhi L-G slams city, Punjab govts over air pollution; AAP hits back

Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena came down heavily on the AAP governments in Punjab and Delhi on Thursday, alleging that the former is playing "truant" on the issue of stubble burning and the latter involved in "over-hyped events" like the odd-even road-rationing scheme, while the national capital is gasping for breath due to alarming levels of air pollution. Setting the stage for a fresh confrontation between the LG's office and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) dispensation in Delhi, Saxena asserted that blaming others for the pollution problem will not help and the solution lies within the city itself. In a statement, the AAP said the Delhi government has taken a slew of measures over the past several years, which has led to a significant improvement in the air quality, as was appreciated in the Economic Survey 2022-23 tabled in Parliament. The party said it has taken several measures even in Punjab and if the Centre provides a subsidy, many more things can be done to curb farm fires. As t

Punjab reports over 1,200 farm fires despite red alert; Delhi AQI 'severe'

Punjab reported more than 1,200 stubble burning incidents on Thursday, while air quality indices turned 'severe' and 'very poor' in neighbouring Haryana. The fresh crop residue burning cases indicated that there was no let up in such cases despite the Punjab Police sounding a red alert in all the districts, warning of legal action against those found burning stubble. Moreover, flying squads have also been keeping a vigil on stubble burning in the state. Amid a spike in pollution levels in Delhi-NCR, the Supreme Court on November 7 directed Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to ensure crop residue burning was stopped "forthwith", saying it cannot let "people die" due to pollution. Punjab on Thursday reported 1,271 farm fires, taking the total number of such cases to 31,932. Of the farm fires reported on Thursday, Moga recorded maximum such cases at 237, followed by 170 in Bathinda, 145 in Barnala, 129 in Sangrur, 113 in Faridkot and 110 in Ludhiana, according to the Punja

Smog towers not practical solution to air pollution: Delhi pollution board

Two experimental smog towers in the city have not been effective in reducing air pollution and the operation of these costly giant air purifiers lacks merit, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has told the National Green Tribunal (NGT). In a report submitted to the NGT last week, the pollution control body emphasised that smog towers cannot be a "practical solution" to the air pollution problem and the two such structures in Delhi should be re-purposed for the "dissemination of technical information on air pollution control as a museum". In the report, DPCC's senior scientist Nandita Moitra said the Rs 25-crore smog tower at Connaught Place, operational for two years, can only mitigate air pollution by up to 17 per cent within a 100-metre radius. Considering Delhi's vast area of 1,483 square kilometres, the pollution control body said the city would need more than 47,000 such towers, with each costing Rs 25 crore for installation and requiring Rs 15 lakh monthly for ...

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Delhi pollution row: LG Saxena attacks Delhi, Punjab govts over crisis

Lt Governor V K Saxena on Thursday targeted AAP governments in Delhi and Punjab over air pollution in the city, saying Delhi can do little to stop smoke from stubble-burning from other states. He also highlighted that the problem in the national capital can be mitigated by reducing "dust that our unrepaired roads, unpaved pavements and construction sites cause" and curbing vehicular emissions. Saxena said the national capital can do little to stop crop residue smoke from other states and added "blaming others should not be alibi for gross inaction over years." Saxena also accused the Punjab government of "playing truant." "We can do little to stop crop residue smoke from other States, apart from pleading with them. Despite States, especially Punjab playing truant, we are, but petitioners for mercy. AQI yet hovers around 400, making the capital gasp," he said in a post. Delhi's air quality fluctuated between "very poor" and "severe" categories on Thursday as unfavourable meteorolog

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Farm fires: Punjab sounds red alert, violators to face legal action

A red alert has been sounded in all the districts of Punjab and legal action will be initiated if anyone found burning stubble, said a senior police official on Wednesday. The move is aimed at ensuring compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court to put a full stop to crop residue burning. Amid a spike in pollution levels in Delhi-NCR, the apex court on November 7 directed Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to ensure crop residue burning was stopped "forthwith", saying it cannot let "people die" due to pollution. Thereafter, Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav had appointed special DGP (law and order) Arpit Shukla as the nodal officer to monitor action against stubble burning. Shukla on Wednesday said commissioners of police and senior superintendents of police have been directed to sensitise farmers, citizens and various stakeholders about the ill-effects of the stubble burning, which is also a violation of law and action could be initiated against ...

Congress' Delhi chief holds meet of former ministers to discuss pollution

The Congress' Delhi unit chief Arvinder Singh Lovely on Wednesday held a meeting of the 'shadow cabinet' of former ministers to discuss the pollution issue in the national capital, a party statement said. Lovely claimed many lives are lost in the wombs due to the pollution but the central and the Delhi governments have not bothered to draw up a roadmap to find a permanent solution to the problem. Leaders of both these governments are busy campaigning for elections in other states instead of tackling Delhi's woes, Lovely alleged. The meeting unanimously passed two resolutions -- one requesting Lt Governor VK Saxena and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to convene an all-party meet to discuss the pollution issue and the other for setting up of a high-powered monitoring committee headed by a Supreme Court judge and comprising environment experts and civil society members -- according to the statement. The Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief said the meeting not only discussed th

Total farm fires cross the 30,000-mark in Punjab since September 15

Stubble burning incidents crossed the 30,000 mark in two months in Punjab which reported 2,544 fresh farm fires on Wednesday, while air quality turned "severe" again in Delhi and was in 'very poor' category in neighbouring Haryana. Punjab had reported 67,020 and 45,464 stubble burning incidents in the corresponding period (September 15 to November 15) of 2021 and 2022 respectively. The crop residue burning incidents are on the upswing for the past few days. Punjab had reported 639 such cases on November 9, six on November 10, 104 on November 11, 987 on November 12, 1,624 on November 13 and 1,776 on November 14. Paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana is considered one of the reasons behind the alarming spike in air pollution levels in the national capital in October and November. Punjab on Wednesday reported 2,544 farm fires, taking the total number of such cases to 30,661 this season. Of these 2,544 farm fires, Bathinda witnessed maximum such cases at 356, followed by 318 in Mo

Delhi continues to breathe poisonous air, AQI in several parts 'severe'

Delhi air pollution: Doctors say breathing in the polluted air of Delhi is equivalent to the harmful effects of smoking approximately ten cigarettes a day

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Pollution spikes in 9 of 11 state capitals post-Diwali, highest in Delhi

The highest spike (recorded at 15-minute intervals) was seen in the national capital Delhi. It was at 999.5 ug/m3 at Pusa on November 13 at 1:30 am

Delhi pollution row: AAP blames Diwali but silent on parali, alleges BJP

As pollution levels in Delhi spiked again on Tuesday the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Admi Party are engaged in a war of words.BJP spokesperson has alleged that the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had made the national capital a gas chamber, and his party is silent on the internal causes of Delhi's pollution."Today, AQI in Delhi is crossing 400 in many areas. Note: No DIWALI, no crackers burst yesterday ; no crackers burst 10 days ago when AQI was 600 plus. Reason: Punjab Parali continues to burn despite SC warnings of 2611 farm fires in two days. 26000 plus farm fires in this season," Poonawalla posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.He further said that AAP government is only blaming Hindus, Diwali, the Centre, Haryana, and UP but is silent on Punjab Parali."There are also internal causes of pollution in Delhi- 1) Dust, 2) Industrial & construction, 3) vehicular pollution, 4) biomass burning 2) Industrial and construction, 3) vehicular pollution and 4) ...

You have police, why didn't you stop firecrackers: Gopal Rai questions BJP

Air quality in parts of the national capital continued in the 'Severe' category on Tuesday morning as the city woke up once again to smog that limited visibility

RML Hospital in Delhi to open special pollution OPD amid worsening levels

"We have decided that a special OPD will run for pollution-related illnesses where comprehensive care can be given to the patients and will include a multi-departmental clinic"

Three Indian cities among world's 10 most polluted after Diwali, Delhi tops

It had an air quality index (AQI) figure of 407, putting it the "hazardous" category, according to Swiss group IQAir

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Courts can't enforce SC orders on firecrackers ban, social awareness needed

The judiciary and lawyers cannot enforce the Supreme Court's orders on firecrackers ban and stubble burning to curb air pollution as it can be tackled by creating a mass awareness, legal experts said. The Supreme Court's recent order banning the manufacture and sale of firecrackers containing barium was violated across the country on Diwali leading to worsening air quality index. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, who represents the main petitioner Arjun Gopal and others seeking a ban on the sale and manufacture of firecrackers, meanwhile, has decided to move a contempt petition in the top court against the law enforcement agencies for the flagrant violation of the court's recent order. Speaking on the violation of judicial orders, senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi was of the view no contempt will work in these kinds of cases where there are many contributors to the rise in air pollution. He said this is a social issue which can be effectively tackled creating a mass social ...

Delhi Minister Gopal Rai calls for review meeting on pollution post Diwali

Additionally, the post-Diwali celebrations in the region have posed a matter of concern for the residents in the area and its adjoining places