Delhi’s Air Quality Improves Slightly As Wind Speed Picks Up

The wind dispersing the pollutants and the thick cover of haze that has shrouded the capital for nearly a week.

• Delhi’s air quality marginally improved on Monday as wind speed picked up, dispersing the pollutants and the thick cover of hazardous haze that shrouded the city for nearly a week. Visibility also improved as sunshine was finally visible after several days.
• The Delhi government banned use of firecrackers during weddings and other events, except for religious functions, following directions from Lieutenant Governor (LG) Najeeb Jung to bring down air pollution in the city.
• The LG directed the Delhi Police and municipal corporations to implement an action plan which includes de-registration of 15-year-old diesel vehicles starting from Monday. About 2 lakh vehicles will go off the capital's roads.
• The Delhi government has issued a guideline to the public to avoid health risks.
• Overloaded trucks and trucks not destined for Delhi are not to be allowed in the capital city and polluting industries running in Delhi will be shut down.
• The municipal corporations of Delhi have been asked to take all measures to the control fire in Bhalaswa and ban construction/demolition activities from 7 to 14 November.

Delhi Government issues health advisory for public amid pollution fears. pic.twitter.com/B8akj50L92

— ANI (@ANI_news) November 7, 2016

Haryana #pollution board bans work at stone crushers, brick kilns in state's NCR distts till Nov 12 #smog #Gurgaon@HTGurgaon @htTweets pic.twitter.com/X1CQlS9Ato

— Rashpal Singh ✍ (@rashysingh) November 7, 2016

With no sign of pollution levels in the air dipping soon, Environment Minister Anil Dave chaired a meeting over the rise in pollution levels in Delhi on Monday. Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung has also called a high-level meeting with key stakeholders.

Here are the key developments that have taken place to curb the toxic air quality of the city:

• Environment Minister Dave, after the meeting, said that 80% of the pollution is because of local factors, 20% is from crop burning in neighbouring states.
• Calling for the blame game between states to stop, he said Diwali crackers are also among the reasons for the air pollution along with brick kilns and old diesel vehicles.

• Delhi Metro suspends all excavation, ‘back filling’ and concrete dismantling work in view of thick smog in the city.
• “We will issue an environment protection calendar which will be state specific. Dust is one of the major reasons for pollution. Till State Government takes initiative immediately, no issue would be solved. They must sprinkle water and do the needful on time,” he said.
• New Delhi Municipal Council begins to sprinkle water using jet pressure pump technique to control air pollution, after National Green Tribunal (NGT) asked why the proposed measure had not been started already.

• NGT has slammed Centre and the Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan governments asking what have they done till now to curb pollution and why has no action been taken against those who are violating NGT orders.
• Gurugram’s Deputy Commissioner has issued a ban on open burning of waste in the area, under Section 144 of the CrPC, and mandating any person, who notices open burning, to lodge a complaint with the local police or senior civic body officials. (The Hindu)
• The Supreme Court has decided to hear a plea seeking proper monitoring of pollution levels in Delhi and adjoining areas on Tuesday, according to reports.
• Environmental Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) member Sunita Narain, on Monday, told the Supreme Court that the current situation needs to be treated as a public health emergency.
• At midnight on Sunday, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi went to the state border area to check measures for tackling air pollution of trucks.

• Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday stated that the government might reintroduce the odd-even programme to bring down the pollution levels. Schools in Delhi NCR have been ordered shut for three days.
• He further directed to halt all construction work in the city for the next five days in an attempt to curb the toxic air quality of the city.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)