News Analysis India

Tag: Air Pollution

  • Delhi air pollution: SC agrees to hear ‘worsening’ AQI plea on November 10 

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Amidst the backdrop of worsening Air Quality Index (AQI) across Delhi NCR, Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider a plea seeking to curb air pollution on November 10. 

    A bench of CJI UU Lalit and Bela M Trivedi agreed to list the plea which also seeks to issue fresh guidelines to also curb stubble burning pursuant to mentions made by Advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha. 

    “AQI level has risen due to stubble burning, Delhi has never seen AQI of 500. We can’t walk freely in this. Stubble burning has increased in Punjab. Secretaries must be called,” Jha told the bench. 

    Jha in his plea has also sought for directing states to take necessary measures in order to reduce pollution including the installation of smog towers, plantation drives, and affordable public transport and also appoint a High-level committee under the Chairmanship of a retired Supreme Court Judge to tackle the air-pollution crisis due to stubble burning.

    He has further sought for summoning Chief Secretaries of GNCTD (Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi), Punjab, Haryana and UP and to direct them to personally take responsibility for no case of stubble-burning anywhere. 

    Seeking the above reliefs, the plea stated that irrespective of the court’s direction to stop stubble burning and construction causing air pollution, there is rampant pollution in the National Capital Territory and other places making it difficult for people to survive. 

    “That said situation is directly against the Right to life (Article 21) of people at large. It is also the responsibility of Petitioner under fundamental duties (Article 51A) to file this petition so as to guide the country in a positive framework and avoid the citizens from becoming sick when the due course is available,” the plea also stated. 

    Jha in his plea has also stated that Delhi-NCR is choking in such a huge manner that the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) held an emergency meeting and directed the authorities to enact Stage 4 of the GRAP in Delhi NCR.

    NEW DELHI: Amidst the backdrop of worsening Air Quality Index (AQI) across Delhi NCR, Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider a plea seeking to curb air pollution on November 10. 

    A bench of CJI UU Lalit and Bela M Trivedi agreed to list the plea which also seeks to issue fresh guidelines to also curb stubble burning pursuant to mentions made by Advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha. 

    “AQI level has risen due to stubble burning, Delhi has never seen AQI of 500. We can’t walk freely in this. Stubble burning has increased in Punjab. Secretaries must be called,” Jha told the bench. 

    Jha in his plea has also sought for directing states to take necessary measures in order to reduce pollution including the installation of smog towers, plantation drives, and affordable public transport and also appoint a High-level committee under the Chairmanship of a retired Supreme Court Judge to tackle the air-pollution crisis due to stubble burning.

    He has further sought for summoning Chief Secretaries of GNCTD (Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi), Punjab, Haryana and UP and to direct them to personally take responsibility for no case of stubble-burning anywhere. 

    Seeking the above reliefs, the plea stated that irrespective of the court’s direction to stop stubble burning and construction causing air pollution, there is rampant pollution in the National Capital Territory and other places making it difficult for people to survive. 

    “That said situation is directly against the Right to life (Article 21) of people at large. It is also the responsibility of Petitioner under fundamental duties (Article 51A) to file this petition so as to guide the country in a positive framework and avoid the citizens from becoming sick when the due course is available,” the plea also stated. 

    Jha in his plea has also stated that Delhi-NCR is choking in such a huge manner that the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) held an emergency meeting and directed the authorities to enact Stage 4 of the GRAP in Delhi NCR.

  • Many cities record poor air quality after Diwali

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A day after Diwali, air quality was recorded as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ in Delhi and several other cities and towns, especially in Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, but was still relatively better than in previous years in the national capital.

    The national capital and its neighbouring areas had witnessed severe air quality post-Diwali when the festival was celebrated in November during last two years, with intense smog enveloping the region for days as stubble burning peaks during the month while low temperatures and calm winds trap pollutants.

    However, favourable weather conditions related to temperature and wind direction diluted the effect of firecrackers and stubble burning to some extent this year.

    Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) stood at 310 at 11 pm on Monday. It increased to 326 by 6 am on Tuesday, remained stable till 9 am and then started decreasing. It was 312 at 4.10 pm.

    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’.

    A metro train runs on its track amid low visibility due to smog, post ‘Diwali’ celebrations, in New Delhi, Oct. 25, 2022 (Photo | PTI)

    In neighbouring areas, Noida in Uttar Pradesh (312) and Gurugram (313), Faridabad (311) and Charkho Dadri (301) in Haryana reported very poor air quality at 9 am.

    Greater Noida (282) and Ghaziabad (272) in UP were also nearing the very poor category.

    Bhiwani, Ambala, Bahadurgarh, Sonipat, Jind, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, and Panipat in Haryana reported their AQI at 291, 241, 279, 214, 296, 211, 276 and 192 respectively, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) data On Tuesday afternoon.

    In Punjab’s Ludhiana, Amritsar, Mandi Gobindgarh, Patiala, Jalandhar and Khanna, the AQI recorded at 10.10 am was 313, 249, 208, 225, 260 and 212 respectively.

    Jodhpur (337) in Rajasthan and Bulandshahr (329) in UP also recorded very poor air quality.

    Other cities with poor air quality included Rajasthan’s Jaipur (265), Ajmer (226) and Kota (216); Gujarat’s Ahmedabad (243), Belgaum (221) in Karnataka; Jabalpur (235), Katni (237) and Dewas (207) in Madhya Pradesh; in UP, Agra (206), Lucknow (241), Kanpur (218) and Khurja (238); Begusarai (325) in Bihar and Tamil Nadu capital Chennai (229).

    The AQI in the Union Territory of Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, was recorded at 178.

    Delhi and Northern states still face an uphill battle

    On Monday night, people in Delhi flouted the ban on firecrackers with impunity though over 400 teams of the Delhi Police, the Department of Revenue, and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee were formed to implement it. The Delhi government had in September announced the ban on the production, sale and use of all types of firecrackers till January 1, 2023, including on Diwali, a practice it has been following for the last two years.

    PM2.5 concentration at most places in the capital was over 550 micrograms per cubic metre by 1 am.

    However, PM2.5 levels dropped below 350 micrograms per cubic metre by 10 am due to warm and windier conditions.

    PM2.5 are fine particles that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter and can travel deep into the respiratory tract, reaching the lungs and entering the bloodstream.

    The Punjab government had allowed bursting firecrackers on Diwali from 8 pm till 10 pm while the Haryana government allowed only green crackers in the state. Farm fires continued at many places in Punjab and Haryana despite efforts to stop the practice.

    Paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana is one of the reasons behind the alarming spike in air pollution levels in the national capital in October and November.

    “Bursting of firecrackers led to a sharp increase in air pollution with PM2.5 concentration, on an average, jumping to 550 micrograms per cubic metre across Delhi by 1 am,” Sunil Dahiya, an analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), told PTI.

    Dahiya said stubble-burning in Punjab and Haryana peaks only in October-end and November and hence its contribution to air pollution on Diwali was not very significant.

    Mobile anti-smog guns spray water into the air after their flag-off by Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai, in New Delhi on Monday. (Parveen Negi by EPS)

    However, the wind direction changed to southwesterly, which is unfavourable for the transport of smoke. Hence, the contribution of stubble burning to Delhi’s pollution (five to eight per cent) was also “not very significant”, said Gufran Beig, chair professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science.

    Emissions from firecrackers and farm fires have contributed significantly to Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution on Diwali over the years. The share of farm fires in Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution was 25 per cent on Diwali in 2021, 32 per cent in 2020 and 19 per cent in 2019.

    Since Diwali was celebrated early in the season this year, moderately warm and windier conditions prevented the rapid accumulation of pollutants from firecrackers bursting and reduced the effect of stubble burning. 

    Other states like Punjab and Tamil Nadu allowed the bursting of firecrackers during a two-hour window.

    Chennai chokes due to ‘poor’ air quality

    The Roads at Velachery were seen completely covered with smog following the Diwali celebrations on Monday Night. (Ashwin Prasath by EPS)

    In Chennai (229), the air quality was recorded as ‘poor’, according to official figures. The city police registered 354 cases regarding various violations, including the time limit allowed for bursting crackers.

    According to the figures uploaded on the website of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) as of noon, most of the observation points in the city and its surroundings generally had ‘poor’ air quality. The state government had earlier mandated the bursting of crackers between 6-7 AM and 7-8 PM in line with a Supreme Court direction.

    Chennai city wakes up with smog following Diwali celebrations. (Ashwin Prasath by EPS)

    NEW DELHI: A day after Diwali, air quality was recorded as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ in Delhi and several other cities and towns, especially in Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, but was still relatively better than in previous years in the national capital.

    The national capital and its neighbouring areas had witnessed severe air quality post-Diwali when the festival was celebrated in November during last two years, with intense smog enveloping the region for days as stubble burning peaks during the month while low temperatures and calm winds trap pollutants.

    However, favourable weather conditions related to temperature and wind direction diluted the effect of firecrackers and stubble burning to some extent this year.

    Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) stood at 310 at 11 pm on Monday. It increased to 326 by 6 am on Tuesday, remained stable till 9 am and then started decreasing. It was 312 at 4.10 pm.

    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’.

    A metro train runs on its track amid low visibility due to smog, post ‘Diwali’ celebrations, in New Delhi, Oct. 25, 2022 (Photo | PTI)

    In neighbouring areas, Noida in Uttar Pradesh (312) and Gurugram (313), Faridabad (311) and Charkho Dadri (301) in Haryana reported very poor air quality at 9 am.

    Greater Noida (282) and Ghaziabad (272) in UP were also nearing the very poor category.

    Bhiwani, Ambala, Bahadurgarh, Sonipat, Jind, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, and Panipat in Haryana reported their AQI at 291, 241, 279, 214, 296, 211, 276 and 192 respectively, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) data On Tuesday afternoon.

    In Punjab’s Ludhiana, Amritsar, Mandi Gobindgarh, Patiala, Jalandhar and Khanna, the AQI recorded at 10.10 am was 313, 249, 208, 225, 260 and 212 respectively.

    Jodhpur (337) in Rajasthan and Bulandshahr (329) in UP also recorded very poor air quality.

    Other cities with poor air quality included Rajasthan’s Jaipur (265), Ajmer (226) and Kota (216); Gujarat’s Ahmedabad (243), Belgaum (221) in Karnataka; Jabalpur (235), Katni (237) and Dewas (207) in Madhya Pradesh; in UP, Agra (206), Lucknow (241), Kanpur (218) and Khurja (238); Begusarai (325) in Bihar and Tamil Nadu capital Chennai (229).

    The AQI in the Union Territory of Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, was recorded at 178.

    Delhi and Northern states still face an uphill battle

    On Monday night, people in Delhi flouted the ban on firecrackers with impunity though over 400 teams of the Delhi Police, the Department of Revenue, and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee were formed to implement it. The Delhi government had in September announced the ban on the production, sale and use of all types of firecrackers till January 1, 2023, including on Diwali, a practice it has been following for the last two years.

    PM2.5 concentration at most places in the capital was over 550 micrograms per cubic metre by 1 am.

    However, PM2.5 levels dropped below 350 micrograms per cubic metre by 10 am due to warm and windier conditions.

    PM2.5 are fine particles that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter and can travel deep into the respiratory tract, reaching the lungs and entering the bloodstream.

    The Punjab government had allowed bursting firecrackers on Diwali from 8 pm till 10 pm while the Haryana government allowed only green crackers in the state. Farm fires continued at many places in Punjab and Haryana despite efforts to stop the practice.

    Paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana is one of the reasons behind the alarming spike in air pollution levels in the national capital in October and November.

    “Bursting of firecrackers led to a sharp increase in air pollution with PM2.5 concentration, on an average, jumping to 550 micrograms per cubic metre across Delhi by 1 am,” Sunil Dahiya, an analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), told PTI.

    Dahiya said stubble-burning in Punjab and Haryana peaks only in October-end and November and hence its contribution to air pollution on Diwali was not very significant.

    Mobile anti-smog guns spray water into the air after their flag-off by Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai, in New Delhi on Monday. (Parveen Negi by EPS)

    However, the wind direction changed to southwesterly, which is unfavourable for the transport of smoke. Hence, the contribution of stubble burning to Delhi’s pollution (five to eight per cent) was also “not very significant”, said Gufran Beig, chair professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science.

    Emissions from firecrackers and farm fires have contributed significantly to Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution on Diwali over the years. The share of farm fires in Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution was 25 per cent on Diwali in 2021, 32 per cent in 2020 and 19 per cent in 2019.

    Since Diwali was celebrated early in the season this year, moderately warm and windier conditions prevented the rapid accumulation of pollutants from firecrackers bursting and reduced the effect of stubble burning. 

    Other states like Punjab and Tamil Nadu allowed the bursting of firecrackers during a two-hour window.

    Chennai chokes due to ‘poor’ air quality

    The Roads at Velachery were seen completely covered with smog following the Diwali celebrations on Monday Night. (Ashwin Prasath by EPS)

    In Chennai (229), the air quality was recorded as ‘poor’, according to official figures. The city police registered 354 cases regarding various violations, including the time limit allowed for bursting crackers.

    According to the figures uploaded on the website of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) as of noon, most of the observation points in the city and its surroundings generally had ‘poor’ air quality. The state government had earlier mandated the bursting of crackers between 6-7 AM and 7-8 PM in line with a Supreme Court direction.

    Chennai city wakes up with smog following Diwali celebrations. (Ashwin Prasath by EPS)

  • Cities high on toxic air this summer

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The summer of 2022 one of the hottest in India’s recorded history witnessed widespread increase in the level of ozone gas at ground level, making the air in metro cities more toxic, says a latest analysis. 

    Termed ‘ozone exceedance’, the phenomenon refers to above-normal ozone concentration at ground level.According to latest air quality analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Delhi-NCR is followed by Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru in the list of metros having higher levels of ozone exceedance.

    Both Chennai and Bengaluru have longer durations of exceedance despite lower frequency compared to other metros. While Delhi-NCR recorded ozone exceedance on almost all days of this summer, Mumbai had 75 days of exceedance. The study warns that the issue can blow up as a major health crisis in the coming days.

    “Even before we could control the problem of particulate pollution, the toxic threat of ground-level ozone is catching up with us. Despite the warning signs, this problem has not attracted adequate policy or public attention for mitigation and prevention. Inadequate monitoring, limited data and inappropriate methods of trend analysis have weakened the understanding of this growing toxic risk,” says Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director-research and advocacy, CSE.

    The assessment has traced trends during summer (March-May) between 2019 to 2022 May (up to May 30). The analysis is based on publicly available granular real time data (15-minute averages) from the CPCB’s official online portal Central Control Room for Air Quality Management. 

    New Delhi and south Delhi neighbourhoods were the worst affected. The data also showed hourly peak levels up by 23 per cent compared to lockdown times.  The 2020 State of Global Air report states that age-standardised rates of death attributable to ozone is among the highest in India. The seasonal eight-hour daily maximum concentrations have recorded one of the highest increases in India between 2010 and 2017.

  • Combustion of coal has led to increase in premature mortality rate in India: Report

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The combustion of coal, mainly in power plants followed by industrial and household settings, has resulted in an increase in the premature mortality rate in India and it needs to phase down from coal as its main source of energy and invest more on renewable and cleaner sources, according to the policy recommendations in “The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change” report.

    Also, air pollution has been recognised as a major determinant for negative health outcomes in India.

    Therefore, there is an urgent need to establish regulatory frameworks pertaining to the control of air pollution at the source of its generation such as industrial emissions, construction sites, vehicle exhaust etc., according to the recommendations mentioned in “The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change — Policy brief for India 2021”.

    ALSO READ | India’s coal import rises 13 per cent to 107 MT in April-September 2021

    It is also necessary to ensure the effective implementation of these regulatory measures.

    The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has partnered with the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change to put forward the policy brief for India in 2021.

    The report highlights how climate change affects health and the need for a timely and robust response for addressing the same, the apex health research body said.

    Since 46 per cent of all agricultural emissions in India are contributed by ruminants such as goats, sheep and cattle, the policy brief recommended that the country needs to move away from the traditional animal husbandry practices and invest in newer technologies that will improve animal breeding and rearing practices, use of good livestock feeds and implement proper manure management, all of which will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

    ​ALSO READ | China defends joining with India on coal ‘phase down’ instead of ‘phase out’ at COP26

    “The combustion of coal, mainly in power plants followed by industrial and household settings, has resulted in an increase in premature mortality. Therefore, India needs to urgently wean away from coal as its main source of energy and needs to invest more on renewable, cleaner and sustainable sources such as solar, wind or hydro energy,” the recommendations stated.

    Data from the 2021 global Lancet Countdown report shows that there has been a nine-per cent increase in the number of deaths related to coal-derived PM2.5 in India in 2019 compared to 2015.

    The country has shown great progress in achieving the implementation of the national health emergency framework under core capacity eight of the International Health Regulation (IHR).

    However, it still needs to further invest in infrastructure, human resources and relevant health systems capacities such as testing and surveillance systems.

  • Consider closure of schools, construction activities: Air quality panel to Haryana, Rajasthan and UP

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Sunday advised Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to consider implementing restrictions — including closure of schools along with construction and demolition activities — as announced by the Delhi government to contain spiralling air pollution levels.

    The state governments and district administrations in the National Capital Region have also been suggested to issue a “citizen charter/advisory” for the public on steps that need to be taken during various stages of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

    On Saturday, the Delhi government announced closure of physical classes in schools, colleges and other educational institutions for a week from Monday.

    ​ALSO READ | Doctors say severe respiratory cases on rise in Delhi amid hazardous air pollution levels

    All government offices, agencies and autonomous bodies, except those involved in essential services, have been asked to work from home.

    No construction and demolition activity is allowed in the capital till November 17.

    At an emergency meeting, the CAQM advised the governments of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to “consider similar restrictions/regulations in the respective NCR districts as implemented by GNCTD through its order on November 13 which includes, inter alia, closure of schools up to November 20 and closure of C&D activities from November 14 to 17”, a statement said.

    The commission asked the states and agencies concerned to be in complete readiness for implementing “emergency measures” as listed under GRAP.

    The air quality is considered to be in the emergency category if the PM2.5 and PM10 levels continue to be above 300 micrograms per cubic metre and 500 micrograms per cubic metre respectively for 48 hours or more.

    ALSO READ | Use public vehicle at least 1 day every month to make Delhi pollution-free: Manish Sisodia to citizens

    The measures to be taken in the “emergency” situation include stopping entry of trucks in Delhi, ban on construction activities and introduction of the odd-even car rationing scheme.

    The commission also said the adverse air quality scenario in Delhi-NCR was also “greatly impacted by a dust storm moving in from the South-Westerly directions of the Thar desert which brought in huge quantities of dust that further amplified the PM2.5 and PM10 levels significantly”.

    The commission said five areas — stubble burning, construction and demolition activities, dust from roads and open areas, vehicular pollution and industrial emissions — need better focus with intensified efforts by the agencies concerned.

  • Pollution not limited to northern states, everyone will have to think over it: Punjab Minister

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Punjab Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu on Saturday said that pollution is not just limited to northern states of the country and every citizen will have to think about it.

    “Pollution is a global issue. It is not limited to Northern Indian states like Punjab, Haryana and Delhi and stubble burning. Both the farmers and city residents will have to think over this issue. Rather, every citizen of the country will have to think about this issue,” said the minister.

    His comments come after farmers in Amritsar on November 5 demanded a compensation of Rs 7,000 per acre from the state government to control stubble burning in their fields.

    “We demanded 7000 Rs per acre to handle the stubble burning. But the government has not given us that money. No farmer wants to set the stubble on fire. If the government does not want to give us the subsidy, they can take the stubble from us,” a farmer had said.

    Stubble burning is a process of setting on fire the straw stubble, left after the harvesting of grains, like paddy, wheat, etc. The process of burning farm residue is one of the major causes of air pollution in parts of north India, deteriorating the air quality around this time of the year. Combing with vehicular emission, it adversely affects the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital.

    The Air Quality Index of Delhi continues to remain in the ‘severe’ category, informed the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research on Saturday. As per SAFAR’s analysis at 6 am today, Delhi’s overall air quality was found to be in the ‘severe’ category with the overall AQI standing at 533.

  • India chokes due to foul air post Diwali, Delhi registers worst spike in its pollution index

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Delhi woke up to a thick layer of haze and smoke-filled skies on Friday, registering the worst post-Diwali pollution spike in five years.

    A combination of factors — firecracker emissions despite a blanket ban; first winter fog and calm winds; and peak stubble burning  — pushed the air quality into the severe zone, an analysis by government agencies said.

    Poor enforcement of cracker ban in Delhi and the absence of any bar in the satellite towns allowed large-scale burning of firecrackers overnight, resulting in a midnight spike in pollution levels.

    As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s overall air quality index (AQI) on Friday was 462, a sharp rise from 382 the previous day.

    The PM 2.5 levels — the most prominent pollutant that can enter the blood stream and pose a serious health risk — shot up five times the permissible limit at midnight.

    Besides, the wind direction changed on Thursday night, bringing in smoke from peak stubble burning in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana. 

    Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai on Friday said NASA images show stubble burning instances shot up from 1,000 last week to over 3,500 on Thursday.

    “A large population of Delhi did not burst crackers, but the BJP-ruled Union government did not enforce or place a blanket ban in satellite towns resulting in people bursting firecrackers,” Rai said. 

    The Delhi government had launched an anti-firecracker campaign last month — Patakhe Nahi, Diye Jalao to discourage people from burning crackers.

    This year, it had placed a blanket ban on sale and purchase of firecrackers early on while no licenses were issued to traders.

    Police officials said that it is mainly the NCR towns from where people have been buying crackers, as sale was not restricted there. 

    A senior police official who did not wish to be named, said, “Crackers were not available anywhere in Delhi. People bought them from Noida and Ghaziabad. The only solution is to put a complete ban on selling and bursting crackers in NCR regions too.” 

    According to an analysis by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, this was the sharpest rise in pollution levels in the city on the morning after Diwali since 2016 when the AQI was 445 (see graphics). 

    Rai also blamed the BJP, alleging that the saffron party instigated people to defy the ban on firecrackers, as the city’s air quality index (AQI) entered the ‘severe’ category on Diwali night and continued its upward trend to reach 462 at noon on Friday.

    Hitting back, Delhi BJP spokesperson Naveen Kumar Jindal said that Diwali is a festival of Hindus and not of a political party and asked if the Hindus who are with Rai’s Aam Aadmi Party are not allowed to celebrate their festival.

    The 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) the day after Diwali was 435 last year, 368 in 2019; 390 in 2018; 403 in 2017 and 445 in 2016.

    As a thick layer of acrid smog enveloped the Delhi-NCR region throughout the day, blotting out the sun, the 24-hour AQI was the highest in the country in Noida at 475, while others – Faridabad (469), Greater Noida (464), Ghaziabad (470), Gurgaon (472) – also recorded ‘severe’ air pollution levels.

    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’.

    According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), several other cities and districts in the country recorded severe AQI — Agra, Baghpat, Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh; Ballbhgarh, Bhiwani, Hisar, Jind, Panipat, Rohtak in Haryana and Bhiwadi in Rajasthan.

    Among the districts and cities where the AQI was ‘very poor’ were — Ambala in Haryana; Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota in Rajasthan, Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, Gorakhpur in UP, Jalandhar in Punjab and Chennai in Tamil Nadu.

    The AQI was in the poor category in Kolkata and Howrah in West Bengal; Patiala in Punjab and Patna in Bihar along with other districts in various states.

    The 24-hour average concentration of lung-damaging fine particles known as PM2.5 in Delhi-NCR shot up from 243 micrograms per cubic metre at 6 PM on Thursday (Diwali day) to 410 micrograms per cubic metre at 9 AM on Friday, around seven times the safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic metre.

    ALSO READ | Thanks to Deepawali, Chennai chokes as AQI hits hazardous levels

    Experts said the air quality turned severe in Delhi-NCR owing to unfavourable meteorological conditions — calm winds, low temperature and low mixing height — and a poisonous cocktail of emissions from firecrackers, stubble burning and local sources.

    The Ministry of Earth Sciences’ air quality forecast agency SAFAR, stated that stubble burning accounted for 36 percent of Delhi’s PM2.5 on Friday, the highest so far this season.

    “A large number of people did not burst firecrackers. I thank them all. But some people burst firecrackers on purpose. I categorically say the BJP instigated them to do it,” Rai told reporters.

    The minister said the number of farm fires has risen to 3,500 and its impact is visible in Delhi.

    Ahead of the festive season, the Delhi government had announced a complete ban on firecrackers till January 1, 2022, and ran an aggressive campaign against their sale and use.

    The Delhi Police arrested 281 people — 138 for selling and supplying firecrackers and 143 for bursting them — between September 29 and Diwali on Thursday, according to data provided by the force.

    Concerned citizens and environment activists shared pictures and videos of fireworks on social media and called the ban on crackers a “joke”.

    “I will shock you by saying that the only thing good about this morning is this event because the weather outside is not good at all,” Supreme Court judge Justice S Ravindra Bhat quipped at a book launch while referring to the spike in air pollution level in the national capital.

    The air quality status in Chennai was very poor with a substantial increase in pollutants in the metropolis when compared to the previous year, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board said.

    The AQI observed from 6 AM on November 4 to 6.00 AM the following day, the “average value of AQI in Chennai city ranges between 342 to 385 and the Air quality status is very poor,” an official release said.

    ALSO READ | Pollution levels go up nearly five-fold on Diwali night in Hyderabad, city centre worst hit

    About 2,000 cases have been registered by police across Tamil Nadu against those who violated the Supreme Court directives in respect of firecrackers, police sources said on Friday.

    The Haryana government had imposed a ban on the sale or use of all kinds of firecrackers in 14 of its districts in the National Capital Region.

    Green crackers were allowed on Diwali in Uttar Pradesh only for two hours in areas with moderate or better air quality.

    In West Bengal, except for some pockets in south Kolkata very few cases of firecracker bursting were reported from the state capital on Kali Puja night even though the air quality in the metropolis dipped from moderate to poor, a West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) official said.

    “The dip in air quality cannot be entirely attributed to the fireworks issue and more due to the moisture and the emissions from vehicular traffic as a higher number of vehicles hit the road on the Kali puja night,” the WBPCB official said.

    The Calcutta High Court had directed that all necessary efforts must be made by the West Bengal government to ensure that only green crackers are used during Diwali-Kali Puja and other ensuing festivals, observing that the sincerity of the state would be reflected in the enforcement mechanism.

    According to the CPCB, the AQI was moderate in aharastra capital Mumbai, though it was poor in Navi Mumbai and Nashik.

    In Hyderabad, two persons were killed and another injured in an explosion of firecrackers during Diwali celebrations.

    Incidents of fire and burn injuries were also reported in many parts of the country during Diwali night.

    The Delhi Fire Service received 152 fire-related calls on Diwali, the lowest in the last 15 years, officials said.

    The DFS control room usually responds to maximum calls on Diwali, and fire-fighters need to be on their toes to deal with emergencies, they said.

    Fire tenders and motorcycles fitted with fire-fighting equipment were deployed in many places.

    (With PTI Inputs)

  • 10-yr-old diesel, 15-yr-old petrol vehicles to be impounded: Noida’s winter plan to check pollution

    By PTI

    NOIDA: In a measure to prevent air pollution, the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration has asked the district police to impound diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in compliance with a Supreme Court order.

    Police have also been asked to ensure that vehicles not destined for Noida or Greater Noida use bypasses or peripheral expressways, according to the ‘winter action plan’ issued by the Gautam Buddh Nagar district administration.

    It stated that police have been asked to keep a strict vigil and show no tolerance for visible emissions by stopping “visibly polluting vehicles” from plying by impounding or issuing fines to offenders.

    The administration on October 6 released the ‘winter action plan’ to check pollution to various government agencies and authorities ahead of winters, during which air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR), including Noida and Greater Noida, spikes to severe levels affecting human health.

    The administration asked the police to list traffic hot-spots in the district and release it and an advisory accordingly.

    “Deploy additional man power and civil defence volunteers to ensure smooth traffic flow at identified traffic hot-spots and impound diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in compliance of the Supreme Court’s order,” the plan stated.

    “Ensure that non-destined vehicles use bypasses or peripheral expressways, keep strict vigilance and no tolerance for visible emissions – stop plying of visibly polluting vehicles by impounding/fine,” it said.

    The police have also been asked to keep strict vigilance and enforcement of pollution under control (PUC) norms besides ensuring stoppage of encroachment on footpaths.

    “Check and resolve issues such as congestion and unusual dust emission due to traffic or parking, and ensure compliance of action plans on the identified pollution hotspots in the city,” according to the plan.

    The police have also been asked to ensure implementation of orders of the Supreme Court regarding prohibition or restriction in the sale and use of fire crackers in NCR.

    “Ensure immediate redressal of complaints received on Sameer, Swachh Vayu, Twitter etc,” it added.

    Earlier the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board identified eight key air pollution hot spots in Noida and Greater Noida, according to the Gautam Buddh Nagar district administration, which has directed local authorities to ensure implementation of the action plan to check pollution during winters.

    The hot spots identified are Sector 7X (a collective of group housing societies in sector 73 to 78 of Noida), Sector 150, the Yamuna Pusta area, the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, the Dadri road, the underpass and building construction along Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, Greater Noida West and UPSIDC industrial areas, it said.

    The major air pollution sources have been identified as road dust, construction and demolition (C&D) waste, industrial dust emissions, unpaved roads and traffic congestion, the administration said in a communication on Wednesday to all three local industrial development authorities and other departments concerned. 

  • Centre has got positive help from Delhi, neighbouring states on stubble burning: Environment Minister

    Some private companies too have come up with good experiments under which stubble or crop residue is turned into manure, said the minister.

  • Union Minister Bhupender Yadav holds meeting with NCR states on action plan to mitigate air pollution

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Thursday held a key meeting with the governments of Delhi and its neighbouring states of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on the action plan to mitigate air pollution caused by stubble burning.

    Briefing the media about the meeting, the minister said discussions were held over implementation of action plans by states to mitigate pollution due to agriculture stubble burning, dust, construction and demolition waste, biomass burning and vehicular pollution.

    The minister said coordination and synergy reflected in the action plan by each state under the overall framework prepared by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

    “Outcome of action plan will significantly depend on the efficacy of the enforcement and implementation by the states,” Yadav said.

    Tweeting about the meeting later, the minister said, “Chaired a meeting with Haryana CM Shri @mlkhattar ji and Environment Ministers and senior officials from neighbouring states on the preparedness and taking ahead the multi-pronged action plan on air quality. Addressed issues requiring inter-state & inter-inisterial coordination.”

    “It was heartening to note that the spirit with which the Commission for Air Quality Management was conceived is reflected in the action plan of states. The outcome of the action plan will significantly depend on the efficacy of the enforcement and implementation by states,” he said.

    Sharing the plan for utilisation of PUSA’s bio-decomposer technology, the minister said that it will be given to farmers in Haryana free of cost for one lakh acre of land and in Delhi, it will be used in more than 4,000 acres of area under paddy, out of the total area 14,600 acres.

    He said that Uttar Pradesh will be given 10 lakh capsules of the bio-decomposer free of cost for 6.1 lakh acre land and Punjab to get it for approximately 7,413 acres of land.

    Farmers in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh set their fields on fire to quickly clear off the crop residue left behind after harvesting and before cultivating wheat and potato.

    It is one of the main reasons for the spike in pollution in Delhi-NCR at the onset of winters.

    The paddy harvesting season is between October 15 and November 15.