India

Before the festivals, Delhi becomes the most polluting city in the world, Know why

Delhi is home to some of the most poisonous air in the world; sources of this hazard include stubble burning, vehicular pollution, construction waste, and coal-fired power plants.

The national capital had the highest air quality index of 110 cities monitored by IQ Air early on Monday, reaching as high as 346. Mumbai, the financial hub of India, has an AQI of 177, according to Bloomberg.

The decline in air quality coincides with the use of the 11-point action plan in accordance with Stage-II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) by the subcommittee of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The Delhi government is implementing GRAP gradually, with measures like prohibiting building and shutting down schools depending on how serious the situation is.

Anju Goel, an energy and resources institute research fellow studying air quality, told Bloomberg that the low AQI was caused by a dip in temperature and sluggish wind speeds, which hampered the dispersion of pollutants.

Delhi had particle matter (PM 2.5) readings of 296 micrograms per cubic meter of air, according to IQ Air data. This is about 20 times more than the WHO’s recommended range of 15.

Data from the Central Pollution Control Board indicates that at 4 p.m., the capital had an air quality index of 313 in the “very poor” category.

Also read: Meeting organized under the banner of All India Muslim Majlis e Mushawara to protect the values of constitution and create a violence-free India

Agriculture fires in the capital’s surrounding areas have decreased dramatically over the last five years, according to Sunil Dahiya, an analyst with the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. However, population growth is making other sources of pollution, such as construction and inefficient cooking stoves, worse.

Kavya Bhatt

Recent Posts

JP Nadda Slams Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Match-Fixing’ Claims As ‘Desperation Of Losing’ Polls

Rahul Gandhi's opinion piece appeared in a national daily and sparked political uproar. Opposition parties…

5 hours ago

Poverty In India Reduced Via Tangible Boost In Household Living Standards, Incomes

In 2022–23, poverty under the revised $3.00 line stood at just 5.25 per cent in…

5 hours ago

Chhattisgarh: Seven Maoists Killed In Indravati National Park Operation

Five Maoists were killed in two separate encounters with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district,…

6 hours ago

Carney Invites Modi To G7 Summit, Highlights India’s Global Supply Chain Role

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the most populous country, with the fifth-largest economy, must…

6 hours ago

RBI Frontloads Rate Cuts To Boost Growth Amid Low Inflation: Crisil

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has frontloaded its rate cuts to support economic growth,…

7 hours ago

PM Modi Urges Global Action On Coastal Resilience At Nice Summit

PM Narendra Modi on Saturday called for urgent global action to build infrastructure that can…

7 hours ago