Residents of Delhi-NCR continue to suffer from the toxic air as the air quality deteriorated again on Sunday. As per the authorities the level of pollutants are likely to increase further in coming days.
For the last one week the air quality of Delhi-NCR region has remained in “Very Poor” category which is a major concern for the pollution control board. Even as the air quality improved for a short period of time, it again slipped to 'Very Poor' quality on Saturday and Sunday.
According to the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR), the overall air quality index (AQI) of Delhi was 322, which fell in the "very poor" category.
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor" and 401 and 500 is considered to be "severe".
The SAFAR had last week forecast that the air quality of the national capital is expected to "significantly deteriorate" Sunday due to a decline in temperature which might lead to entrapment of pollutants. However, even after "significant deterioration" the air quality is likely to stay in the 'very poor' level, it had said.
According to SAFAR, the air quality is very poor in Delhi and at present there is "insignificant intrusion from outside of Delhi".
"It said it is an ideal time to ascertain the impact of local emissions on the pollution level of Delhi," it said.
Air pollution is not just a health issue. It adversely impacts the economic fabric of a nation. Currently, India is losing close to 7.7 per cent of GDP in welfare losses. Premature deaths, illnesses and economic loss owing to eroding air quality are preventable. Therefore, as India strives for greater growth, the environment cannot be neglected.
The local emissions include pollution from vehicles, construction activities and garbage burning among others.
Earlier, authorities had said that vehicular emissions contribute to 40 per cent pollution in Delhi.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said in 14 areas of the national capital, the air quality was in the "very poor" category, while in 14 areas, it was recorded in the "poor" category.
The PM2.5 (fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometre) level was recorded at 155 and the PM10 level at 328, it added.
Ghaziabad recorded very poor air quality, Faridabad poor air quality and Gurgaon recorded moderate air quality, the CPCB data showed.
According to SAFAR, the air quality is very poor in Delhi and at present there is "insignificant intrusion from outside of Delhi".
"It said it is an ideal time to ascertain the impact of local emissions on the pollution level of Delhi," it said.
Policy efforts are crucial, but they do not absolve each and every individual off their responsibility. Clean air and environment is, and should be, every citizen’s effort. For starters, people can opt for ride-sharing, use public transportation, promote festivals without firecrackers, use energy efficient appliances, segregate waste, recycle, and most importantly, raise pollution as an electoral issue.
(PTI)
