Coughing and wheezing in smog choked Delhi -Governance Now

Coughing and wheezing in smog choked Delhi

The air quality on Wednesday reached the hazardous level in many parts of Delhi

GN Bureau | November 8, 2017

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

Fog and haze along the Himalaya (Courtesy: NASA)

This NASA image only shows half the truth. People living in the Delhi NCR region are experiencing the real horror. Breathlessness, itchy eyes and sore throat are the immediate reactions. Only time will tell the long term effects of this deadly smog.

It is history repeating itself for people living in Delhi-NCR, which is choking again due to the severe air pollution. It seems neither the government nor the people have learnt any lessons from last year. Shifting the blame to the neighbouring states, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has written to his counterparts in Haryana and Punjab to work on a solution for the stubble burning by farmers.

Some emergency measures have been taken by the government like closing primary schools, restricting outdoor activities for kids, increasing parking fees in the capital and reducing metro fares during peak hours.

The supreme court-appointed Environment Pollution and Control Authority (EPCA) has also suggested some emergency measures to curb the alarming pollution. Among others, it has recommended a fine of Rs 50,000 to be imposed on road construction agencies violating dust pollution norms in Delhi-NCR and has asked the Delhi-NCR governments to start odd-even soon. Read EPCA list of measures when the air quality touches ‘emergency’ level.

But are these measures enough? A year has passed since the last year’s deadly smog; and still no preventive or precautionary measures have been taken by the government. It is yet again restoring to emergency measures only; and no long term solutions.

As per the national air quality index, air quality on Wednesday shot up to more than 500, reaching ‘hazardous’ level in many parts of Delhi.

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