Governance Now

As pollution level soars, smog engulfs Delhi NCR

The air quality in most parts of the city is "hazardous" as per the real-time air quality index (AQI). PM 2.5 levels is alarmingly high

GN Bureau | November 7, 2017


#air quality   #Arvind Kejriwal   #Delhi smog   #crop burning   #smog   #Delhi pollution   #PM 2.5  


Delhi is out of breath, yet again. The air quality in the Delhi NCR region dipped to a ‘severe’ level on Tuesday. The last time the air quality was severe in the region was on October 20, a day after Diwali. That happened despite the supreme court ban on firecrackers. 

It seems burning eyes, sore throat, and gasping for breath has become a new normal for people living in the northern parts of the country during the winter season.
 
The visibility dropped to 200 metre on Tuesday morning; disrupting flight and train services. The air quality in most parts of the city is "hazardous" as per the real-time air quality index (AQI). PM 2.5 levels were alarmingly high.
 

 
Describing the city as “gas chamber”, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal blamed the adjoining states for crop burning which worsened the situation. Declaring public health emergency in Delhi, the Indian Medical Association has appealed to the government to close schools. It has even asked the government to cancel the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon scheduled for November 19.
 
Environmentalist Sunita Narain in a recent blog post on the Centre for Science and Environment website explained why the problem of pollution is worsening. Narain also suggests some tough solutions which need to be taken immediately if we want to breathe fresh air. 
 
#smog is trending on twitter since Tuesday morning. People are venting their anger on twitter through some sarcastic tweets.
 

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