Page 31 - Delhi Pollution

Delhi: Air quality improves but still in 'poor' category; AQI at 221

NCR also witnessed some improvement in the air quality as Gurugram fell in the 'Moderate' category with an AQI of 162 and Delhi Airport (T3) recorded 'poor' quality air with an AQI of 218.

Delhi air quality still in 'very poor' category; AQI recorded at 309

National Capital Region (NCR) continued to witness bad air as Noida, which is part of the national capital region, recorded an AQI of 344 in the 'very poor' category

Best of BS Opinion: Green yields, the routine air pollution crisis & more

Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

The routine air pollution crisis

The fact is Delhi is also part of the pollution problem - its sources of combustion add to the pollution of neighbouring states and theirs to Delhi

Delhi air quality improves, AQI now at 320; still in 'very poor' category

NCR also continued to witness bad air as Noida also registered very poor air quality with an AQI of 341 while Gurugram's AQI stood at 324 and continued to remain in the 'very poor' category.

Delhi: Over 5,800 challans issued for violations under GRAP Stage III

Delhi Police has issued over 5,800 challans after the city government restricted the movement of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers, it said. The traffic police stopped or issued challans to 5,882 vehicles for violations till 6 am on Friday, it said. "As part of restrictions on BS III Petrol and BS IV Diesel vehicles till 13th November to fight pollution, 5882 Vehicles were stopped/challaned for violations till 6 AM on 11.11.2022. Emergency vehicles are exempted," it said in a tweet. During a recent review meeting, the Delhi government's transport department decided that the curbs under Stage III of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) should remain in place for the next few days instead of a no knee-jerk reaction. "BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi will remain banned under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan," Environment Minister Gopal Rai had said on Monday. In an order on Monday, the city government's transport department had said owners of

Delhi's air quality remains 'very poor', min temp settles at 12.6 deg C

Delhi's air quality on Saturday remained in the 'very poor' category with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 311 at 9 am, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed. 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 AQI was 'very poor' in 27 of the 37 monitoring stations. The AQI was at 351 in Jahangirpuri, 347 in Nehru Nagar, 339 in Sri Aurobindo Marg, 335 in RK Puram and 334 in Bawana. The minimum temperature settled at 12.6 degrees, a notch below the season's average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The relative humidity was recorded at 76 per cent at 8.30 am, the IMD said. The weather department has forecast mainly clear skies during the day. The maximum temperature is expected to settle at 29 degrees Celsius. On Friday, the maximum temperature settled at 28.5 degrees Celsius, a notch below the season's avera

Delhi-NCR air quality deteriorating, GRAP stage III curbs to continue: CAQM

The Centre's air quality panel on Friday said curbs under stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) will continue in Delhi-NCR as the air pollution in the region is showing an upward trend. Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index stood at 346 at 4 pm on Friday, deteriorating from 295 on Thursday. "The Air Quality Index (AQI) has been showing an increasing trend for the last two days in Delhi-NCR. Wind conditions have not been very favourable and accordingly dispersion of air pollutants has not been very effective," the CAQM said in a statement. Considering the need to continue with the steps to prevent deterioration of air quality, the sub-committee on Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has decided that the "ongoing action implemented under Stage III of GRAP shall continue and it should not be withdrawn at this stage". All construction and demolition work, except for essential projects, is banned in Delhi-NCR under the third stage of the GRAP. Brick kilns, hot mix plants

Rising air pollution can affect unborn babies, say health experts

As the air quality deteriorates in Delhi-NCR, health experts are of the view that air pollution can negatively affect pregnancy, possibly leading to preterm birth, a low birth weight, stillbirth, or congenital abnormalities. The AQI is constantly dipping into a very poor and severe category in the capital region, with doctors advising expecting mothers to stay indoors as much as possible. WHO has also cautioned vulnerable groups like pregnant women, older adults above 60 years, and children under 5 years about the risks and health effects that poor air quality can cause. Recently, a high-resolution satellite image was released, showcasing a massive methane cloud near a waste facility in India. It is no secret that these gases create a lot of cardiovascular, pulmonary, ENT, and skin-related disasters in the human body. Inhaling harmful substances welcomes innumerable conditions which are at times chronic and dangerous with long-term effects, said Dr. Viswesvaran Balasubramanian, ...

Delhi's air quality further improves, but still in 'very poor' category

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 303 on Thursday morning, while the PM 10 level was 195 or "moderate"

Delhi's air quality improves on back of winds, rains in Rajasthan, Haryana

Air pollution in Delhi ameliorated from "very poor" to the "poor" category on Wednesday owing to favourable wind speed at night, sporadic rains in adjoining states and a considerable drop in emissions from stubble burning. The 24-hour average AQI stood at 260, dropping from 372 on Tuesday. It was 354 on Monday, 339 on Sunday and 381 on Saturday. This is the lowest AQI since October 20 when it was 232. For November, it was the best AQI since November 29, 2020, when it was 231, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board. An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered poor, 301 and 400 very poor, and 401 and 500 severe. The improvement in air quality was evident from better visibility levels with 1,400 metres at the Palam airport and 1,500 at the Safdarjung airport in the morning. A smoky haze had lowered the visibility levels to 800 metres at these places on Tuesday. A Met official said southeasterly winds gusting up to 30 kmph barrelled through parts on Tuesday night. It

Primary schools reopen in Delhi after short break due to pollution

This ban was imposed in the wake of increasing pollution and the decreasing air quality of the national capital

Delhi govt to reopen classes from Nov 9, revokes work-from-home order

The CAQM order recommending the restrictions was issued on Thursday

As AQI improves slightly, Delhi govt to decide on lifting ban under GRAP

With the Air Quality Index in the national capital improving slightly to "very poor" category on Monday, the Delhi government is likely to review the ban imposed under the GRAP restriction

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..."