Page 30 - Delhi Pollution

Delhi min Gopal Rai calls meeting to reopen primary schools, revoke WFH

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai will chair a high-level meeting Monday to discuss the new directions by the Centre's air quality panel about revoking curbs imposed under the final stage of Graded Response Action Plan, officials said Sunday. A decision on reopening primary schools and revocation of order asking 50 per cent of the government staff to work from home is likely to be taken at the meeting, an official said. The Centre's air quality panel Sunday directed authorities to lift the ban on plying of non-BS VI diesel-run light motor vehicles in Delhi-NCR and entry of trucks into the capital imposed under the final stage of the Graded Response Action Plan. The restrictions were imposed three days ago. As Delhi's air quality index spiralled to 450, just a notch short of the "severe plus" category, on Thursday, the Commission of Air Quality Management had directed authorities to ban the plying of non-BS VI diesel light motor vehicles in the city and adjoining NCR districts an

Eyes burn, fatigue: How air pollution is affecting people in Delhi NCR

Business Standard caught up people out and about in Delhi's iconic Connaught Place to see how they feel about the situation and the measures taken by the governments. Let's take a look:

Delhi pollution: AQI slides, still at 'upper end of very poor' category

The recurring problem of farm fires from the neighbouring states contributed 21 per cent to PM2.5 in Delhi, which was 34 per cent on Friday

4 out of every 5 Delhi-NCR families face pollution-related ailments: Survey

Four out of every five families in Delhi-NCR have claimed to have experienced pollution-related ailments in the last few weeks, according to a survey. Meanwhile, 18 per cent of the total 19,000 people surveyed by LocalCircles have already visited a doctor. The survey also found that 80 per cent of the surveyed families have at least one member who is experiencing some kind of respiratory problem due to air pollution. The responses were sought from the residents of Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad with 63 per cent of respondents being male. "Four in five Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region) families surveyed have someone experiencing pollution-related ailments: 18 per cent have already visited a doctor or a hospital," the survey mentioned. Answering the question on the nature of the ailment, 80 per cent families said their members are "facing multiple issues due to the pollution", while 7 per cent denied having any issue at all due to the pollution. Meanwhile, 13 per

Air purifier sales surge as Delhi grapples with 'severe' pollution

Once a luxury product, air purifiers have increasingly become a necessity as sales surge amid a rise in Delhi's pollution levels that are now just a notch below the 'Severe Plus' category. According to Central Pollution Control Board data, Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 426 at 9.30 am on Friday. An AQI of above 400 is considered 'Severe' and can affect healthy people and seriously impact those with existing illnesses. On Thursday, the 24-hour average AQI stood at 450 at 4 pm, just a notch below the 'Severe Plus' category. Demand for air purifiers have risen in the national capital, particularly after Diwali, which witnessed widespread bursting of firecrackers despite a ban. "The air quality in India is deteriorating due to many activities industrial expansion in cities, population density, improper waste management, crop burning, increased automobile use and a few natural causes. There is evidence that air pollution, both outdoor and indoor, is on the rise and is

Delhi BJP spokesman puts up poster comparing CM Kejriwal to Hitler

The poster outside the BJP office in the national capital, says: "Kejriwal is second... Ruler who converted his city into a gas chamber... Hitler was first..."

Long-term exposure to air pollution ups kidney disease risk: Study

As air pollution worsens in Delhi-NCR, a new study has warned that long-term exposure to air pollution may increase kidney disease risk.

Delhi under thick smog blanket, air quality remains severe for third day

In a slight improvement, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 431 on Saturday morning, according to data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

Wear masks to protect yourselves as CM busy in poll campaign: Mandaviya

Taking a dig at Arvind Kejriwal, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday urged Delhi'ites to wear masks to protect themselves from pollution as the Delhi chief minister was busy in poll campaign in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. Alarmed by hazardous pollution levels and health warnings, the Delhi government on Friday announced that primary schools will remain shut from Saturday and 50 per cent of its staff will work from home, while private offices have been advised to follow suit. Delhi's air quality remained "severe" for a second day on the trot. "The people of Delhi are urged to wear masks and protect themselves from air pollution because Kejriwal-ji is busy talking about free 'rewari' in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh and putting up advertisements by spending crores of rupees of Delhi taxpayers' money," he said in a tweet in Hindi.

Delhi air pollution worst in the world on Friday, shows Swiss firm data

Delhi government has ordered WFH for 50 per cent of govt staffers, primary schools have been ordered shut

Delhi govt orders WFH for half its staff, primary schools to be shut

As capital chokes with air pollution, AAP takes responsibility for excessive stubble burning in the last few days

Delhi pollution: Why can't Punjab put out stubble fires if Haryana can?

Delhi's air quality index reached hazardous levels. Punjab's share in farm fires is maximum this time. So why has the govt failed in reining in the stubble burning in the state? Here's our report

SC agrees to hear on Nov 10 plea raising air pollution issue in Delhi

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to examine on November 10 a plea seeking urgent steps in connection with air pollution in Delhi

Scindia digs up Kejriwal's statements on stubble burning, says 'then do it'

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday took a swipe at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his past statements regarding the stubble burning leading to pollution in the national capital

Severe air pollution in Delhi: BJP asks AAP to order closure of schools

The Delhi BJP on Friday demanded that the AAP government order closure of schools in the national capital in view of severe air pollution. Addressing a press conference at the Delhi BJP office, national spokesperson of the party Shehzad Poonawala said the AAP government should stop playing with the lives of the children and close the schools. "Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is working like a part time chief minister of Delhi, should tell the people what steps have been taken by his government to curb pollution in the city," Poonawala said. Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta said the party will take to the streets if the Kejriwal government does not order closure of schools. Raging farm fires and stagnant atmospheric conditions pushed the capital's air quality index to the edge of the "severe plus" category on Thursday, prompting authorities to invoke the final stage of anti-pollution curbs, including a ban on diesel-run light motor vehicles. The Commission for Air Quality ...

Delhi govt to provide Rs 5,000 each as aid to 1 mn construction workers

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday directed Labour Minister Manish Sisodia to provide Rs 5,000 each as financial aid to 10 lakh registered workers due to pollution-related ban on construction activities in Delhi. With pollution levels worsening, the Centre's air quality panel had on Saturday directed authorities to impose a ban on construction and demolition activities in Delhi-NCR, except on essential projects, and other curbs under stage three of the Graded Response Action Plan. GRAP is set of anti-air pollution measures followed in the capital and its vicinity according to the severity of the situation. "Construction activities have been stopped across Delhi in view of pollution. I have directed Labour Minister, Sh Manish Sisodia, to give Rs 5,000 pm as financial support to each construction worker during this period when construction activities are not permitted," Kejriwal tweeted. The Delhi government will deposit Rs 5,000 in the accounts of over 10 lakh construction

Delhi air quality remains 'very poor'; Noida AQI may turn into 'severe'

The Air Quality Index at the city's Mathura Road was also under the "very poor" category with PM 2.5 at 355 and PM 10 concentration at 289 under the "poor" category

Child rights body asks Delhi govt to shut schools till pollution reduces

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has asked the Delhi government to shut schools till air quality in the national capital improves. The national capital's air quality has deteriorated to 'severe' in the last few days, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. Air pollution in the 'severe' category affects healthy people and seriously impacts children and those with existing diseases, according to the CPCB. The apex child rights body said it had taken a serious view of the matter and expressed concern over the 'severe' air quality impacting the health of children. NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo has written to the chief secretary and strongly recommended considering appropriate action. He has urged the Delhi government to consider shutting schools in the interest of the children till air quality in the national capital improves.

Delhi's air quality improves, now in 'poor' category, min temp 15.2 deg C

Delhi's air quality improved on Tuesday morning, as the AQI stood in the 'poor' category, even as the minimum temperature settled at 15.2 degrees Celsius, a notch below normal. The city's air quality index (AQI) stood at 266 around 9:15 AM, data from the Central Pollution Control Board showed. Delhi's overall air quality index had read 361 at 8 pm on Monday. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe". The minimum temperature on Tuesday was recorded at 15.2 degrees Celsius, one notch below the season's average. The city recorded a relative humidity of 94 per cent at 8:30 AM, as per data shared by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The minimum temperature on Monday was recorded at 15.1 degrees Celsius, a notch below normal, while the maximum temperature stood at 31.1 degrees Celsius. The meteorological office has forecast mainly clear sky later in

Delhi air in 'very poor' category, city records min temp of 15 deg C

Delhi's air quality remained in the 'very poor' category on Monday morning and the city recorded a minimum temperature of 15 degrees Celsius, a notch below the season's average. With pollution levels worsening, the Centre's air quality panel has directed the authorities to impose a ban on construction and demolition activities in the Delhi-NCR, except in essential projects, and other curbs under stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan. The relative humidity at 8.30 am stood at 90 per cent, officials said. The weatherman predicted mainly clear skies for the day with the maximum temper likely to settle at 32 degrees Celsius. GRAP is a set of anti-air pollution measures followed in the capital and its vicinity according to the severity of the situation. It classifies the air quality in the Delhi-NCR under four different stages: Stage I - "Poor" (AQI 201-300); Stage II - "Very Poor" (AQI 301-400); Stage III - "Severe" (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV - "Severe Plus" (AQI >450).