The Pollution in Delhi is On The Rise Before Diwali

The weather in the nation’s capital, Delhi is deteriorating day by day. Breathing in Delhi is equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes a day. The weather department has time and again issued advisories regarding the day by day spoiling condition of Delhi, but the citizens are least interested in paying attention to it and are doing nothing in that regard. Every year this bad weather condition becomes worse when Diwali is near.

This year the situation is no different. The people of Delhi experienced a sudden change in weather since Saturday i.e. November 3, 2018 evening. On November 5, 2018 the people woke up to thick smog and minimal visibility in most areas of Delhi. Yet again the weather department has warned that the air quality will fall even more. As per the statistics of the Delhi Pollution Control Board (DPCB) the level of the pollutant PM2.5 was at a hazardous mark of 644 which is nearly 20 times the safe limit prescribed by the WHO. The deteriorating air quality in Delhi is capable of causing numerous lung, breathing and respiratory problems. On November 4, 2018, the people of Delhi experienced slightly better air quality due to increased wind speed, but on the contrary, the morning of November 5, 2018 witnessed extremely low visibility on the roads. We all know how harmful is smog for our health yet we hardly take any measures to improvise the situation. In simple language smog is defined as fog or haze intensified by smoke or other atmospheric pollutants. More than over 1 million Indians die of smog everywhere. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that Delhi’s air is the worst air of any major planet in the solar system. Indeed this is a very alarming statement and it calls for strict and immediate action. But are we as citizens doing anything on the ground level to improve the situation. The answer is absolutely, No. Have we tried to question ourselves that where will this situation take us in future? Absolutely No. We should not be surprised if tomorrow people start deserting the national capital, Delhi due to its poisonous air quality. An official of the weather department stated that the contribution of stubble-burning to pollution in the national capital is expected to be 24 per cent on November 5, 2018. The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology had also warned of a sharp increase in the PM2.5 concentration. The DPCC has taken some strict and serious actions in this regard. It has issued an advisory to the transport department and traffic police to make the checking stricter and control road congestion till November 10, 2018. The construction works including excavation is completely banned. Alongside even stone-crushers and hot-mix plants that generate dust are also banned. D Saha, former additional director and head of air quality management division at the CPCB stated that no drastic change in pollution level is anticipated as the ground level emissions are under control due to administrative and regulatory measures. We all can hope to have a clean Diwali this time.

By: Anuja Arora

Content: https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/smog-envelopes-delhi-air-quality-falls-2-days-before-diwali-1942874