Newly formed teams to help implement preemptive measure under revised GRAP; Delhi govt has created 300 separate teams
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Friday expressed concern and dissatisfaction with the Punjab government's preparedness towards air quality management and noted a huge gap in the state's plan for stubble management. At a review meeting, Yadav said the Punjab government has not planned adequately for management of almost 5.75 million tons of stubble in the state which may have an adverse impact on the air quality in Delhi and the national capital region (NCR). He directed the governments of Punjab and NCR states to ensure timely and effective implementation of various components of the detailed plan of actions developed for the management of paddy stubble burning, the ministry said in a statement after the meeting. Yadav held a detailed review meeting on the measures and actions planned towards abatement of air pollution by all stakeholders concerned in the NCR region and adjoining areas in the wake of poor air quality conditions generally prevailing between October and
Cities are required to do the self-assessment as per the framework provided on PRANA online portal
Some of the possible activities under MoU are joint use and operation of scientific instruments, exchange of scientific and technical information
Delhi's air quality in May this year was the poorest for the month in the last three years, according to the Central Pollution Control Board data. Experts attributed the poor air quality to the lack of rainfall in the first half of the month. The city received just 1.4 mm of rainfall from May 1 to May 20, according to the India Meteorological Department. Delhi recorded an average air quality index (AQI) of 212 this year as against 144 in 2021 and 143 in 2020. It saw 21 days of "poor" air quality in 2022 as compared to three in 2021 and just two in 2020. The capital had only one day of "satisfactory" air quality this time as against six in 2021 and four in 2020. "Moderate" air quality days also dipped to nine as compared to 22 such days last year. An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe', while the AQI above 500 falls in the 'severe plus' category.
Google has expanded its feature to give detailed information about air quality to help people avoid pollution in the US.
The increase in the number of people dying prematurely from exposure to air pollution was highest in cities in South Asia.
Particulate matter, especially PM2.5, is capable of penetrating deep into the lungs and entering the bloodstream, causing cardiovascular, cerebrovascular (stroke) and respiratory impacts
In 2021, none of the cities in India met the prescribed World Health Organization air quality standards of 5 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3), stated the World Air Quality Report 2021
The particulate pollution spiked and stayed elevated with varying intensity across all regions during the winter of 2021-22
On February 22, the air quality is expected to improve to 'lower end of Moderate' due to relatively high temperature and wind speed
The level of PM 2.5 and PM 10 was recorded at 114 in the 'poor' category and 206 in the 'moderate' category respectively.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said has predicted a generally cloudy sky with light rain or drizzle in Delhi today.
The concentrations of PM 2.5 and PM 10 were recorded at 136 in the 'very poor' and 221 in the 'moderate' category respectively
Despite rainfall, Delhi's air quality was recorded in the ''very poor'' category as the Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 324 at 8.05 am
The concentrations of PM 2.5 and PM 10 were recorded at 143 in the 'very poor' and 228 in the 'moderate' category respectively.
The concentrations of PM 2.5 and PM 10 were recorded at 176 in the 'very poor' and 280 in the 'moderate' category respectively
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted foggy days through the week
India is failing in efforts to improve its toxic air quality, with the number of smog-plagued cities increasing since the launch of a national program to tackle the issue
With the levels of pollution rising this year, the downward dip, induced by the hard lockdown phases of the pandemic in 2020, will not persist, a new analysis of regional pollution trends showed