Delhi engulfed in smog, AQI recorded at 328

New Delhi: As the air quality remained in the ‘Very Poor’ category on Monday, a blanket of haze engulfed parts of the national capital. The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) reported that Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was 328. This is just marginally better than the average AQI of 356 on Sunday.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reports that the AQI in the Anand Vihar region was 357 at 7 AM, falling from 405, the “severe” category reported on Sunday, to the “very poor” category. The AQI around the Akshardham temple was reported at 357, which was worse than the 261 AQI that was recorded at 7 am yesterday.

SAFAR has forecast that the air quality in the capital is expected to be in the ‘Very Poor’ category for the next week due to the extra emissions from stubble burning and the usage of firecrackers, even though Delhi has banned them until January 1. “The meteorological conditions are unfavourable for effective dispersion of pollutants,” SAFAR said in a notification.

Vansh Aggarwal, a Delhi student, encouraged the administration to use “new techniques and innovation” in order to reduce pollution in the nation’s capital.

“There are several causes for the rise in pollution, such as industrial and vehicular pollution. It would be incorrect to just ascribe the increase to Diwali, despite the fact that there are several other factors at play. A suitable mechanism ought to be in place to address the pollution problem. The government should take charge of it and take action rather than politicizing it. There are many engineering institutions here. In some manner, we should apply new methods and creativity,” he told the media source.

He went on to compare the air quality in Delhi with larger Noida, stating that he believes the national capital has poorer air quality.

“Now as a student I travel, so if I compare to greater Noida and Delhi, I think the air quality here is worse,” he said.

Sukhram, another individual, said that he has been unable to breathe and has been unwell for a few days as a result of the pollution, which is causing him to return to his village.

“I have been ill for the last seven days because of Delhi’s high pollution levels. I came to Delhi to spend Diwali with my kids, who reside in Trilokpuri, and I’m heading back to my hometown in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. I’m heading home today since I couldn’t sleep well because of the pollution and was having trouble breathing. It’s also very hot,” he told the journalists.

Significantly, the water pollution in the Kalindi Kunj region continued to result in floating hazardous foam on the Yamuna River.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the governing Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are now engaged in a heated argument about the river’s pollution. Virendra Sachdeva, the head of the Delhi BJP, was admitted to the hospital on Saturday morning after swimming in the Yamuna River to express his disapproval of the “corruption” of the Delhi government, which he claimed denied the city money intended for river cleanup.

Gopal Rai, an AAP lawmaker and Delhi environment minister, has attacked the BJP, saying it was causing the nation’s capital to become more polluted.

“The BJP is the party that causes pollution and seems to think that drama is the only way to address it. All governments and political parties should cooperate, in my opinion. Although I hope they stay healthy, pollution won’t be reduced by just putting an end to these showy acts. This shows how well-informed the BJP leaders are. I wrote to the BJP President when I was putting up the winter action plan, but I haven’t heard back or received any recommendations yet,” he told ANI on October 26.