Delhi's Air Quality In 'Poor' Category For Third Consecutive Day

The national capital's air quality remains a cause for concern as the Air Quality Index (AQI) lingers in the 'poor' category for the third consecutive day. According to the Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)-India, the AQI in Delhi currently stands at 286, indicating unhealthy air quality for residents.

This sustained deterioration in air quality can be attributed to the ongoing issue of stubble burning in parts of Punjab and Haryana. Despite efforts to curb this practice, over 2,500 cases of stubble burning have been reported this year. However, it's worth noting that the numbers are an improvement compared to the previous two years.

On Friday, Haryana released images claimed to be from NASA, showing a significant increase in stubble-burning incidents in Punjab compared to Haryana on October 25 and 26. This visual evidence highlights the seriousness of the issue.

Punjab has reported a 50% drop in farm fires during the ongoing paddy harvesting season, despite a spike of 766 incidents in a single day on Friday, marking the highest this season.

To combat the worsening air quality, Delhi has implemented the second phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), aimed at reducing the impact of increased pollution. The most polluted cities in this scenario are Haryana's Jind and Gujarat's Vatva, both recording an AQI of 298, placing them in the 'poor' category. Haryana's Hanumangarh ranks as the second most polluted city, with an AQI of 291.

The air quality in the Delhi-NCR region also remains a concern, with most areas falling into the 'poor' category. Greater Noida recorded the highest AQI at 280, followed by Faridabad at 235 and Gurugram at 224. Ghaziabad's AQI stood at 227, while Noida reported an AQI of 220. However, Sonipat and Manesar reported 'moderate' air quality with AQIs of 117 and 183, respectively. Mumbai, in comparison, had a 'moderate' AQI of 139.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has introduced the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to tackle air pollution. This plan has different stages to address worsening air quality:
Stage I: Construction and demolition activities on plots of 500 square meters or more are halted, and restaurants and hotels are directed to stop using coal and firewood in tandoors. Automated road cleaning is initiated when AQI is "poor."

Stage II: Parking fees are increased to reduce private vehicle usage, and the frequency of local buses and the Metro is increased to tackle high commuter numbers. This stage comes into play when AQI is "very poor."

Stage III: BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers are prohibited from entering Delhi-NCR, and all construction activities (except government projects) are halted. Commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi are also prohibited in the capital. This stage is activated when AQI is "severe."

Stage IV: All construction and demolition activity is banned, and authorities are asked to plan online classes for schools and remote work for offices. This stage is initiated when pollution levels are "severe-plus."

Delhi and its neighbouring areas are grappling with air quality challenges, and concerted efforts are needed to mitigate the impact of pollution. As the capital city continues to battle poor air quality, it becomes imperative to implement measures and raise awareness to ensure cleaner and healthier air for all residents.