Delhi Pollution: Delhi's Air Quality Remains 'Very Poor', AAP Govt Scrambles To Curb Winter Pollution Ahead Of Festivals

The air quality of Delhi registered a marginal improvement on Monday but remained in the 'very poor' category for the second day straight. 

The worsening air quality of Delhi with the onset of winters and Dussehra-Diwali festivities has made Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Delhi government to scramble, which has announced a series of measures to curb pollution. There is, however, no immediate relief from the poor air quality. 

Among other things, the Delhi government announced the identification of eight more pollution hotspots, the ban on coal and firewood for cooking, relaunch of initiative to check vehicular pollution, and the deployment of anti-smog guns with dust suppressant powder. 

While the average air quality index (AQI) of Delhi was 313 on Sunday, it fell to 303 on Monday evening, according to ANI. The reduction of AQI marks marginal improvement but remains in the 'very poor' category. 

Reasons for Delhi's pollution

There are a number of reasons for pollution in Delhi at the moment, including vehicular emissions, smoke from farm-fires in neighbouring states, dust emissions from construction activities, burning of waste, etc. 

Such factors are compounded by the current weather conditions as well. Unlike previous two years, there has been little rainfall this October in Delhi and, when combined with slow wind, it results in failure to flush out the pollutants in the Delhi's atmosphere. 

Farm fires continue to feature prominently among Delhi's pollutants. The smoke from Diwali celebrations is also likely to add to the problem next month.

Smoke from paddy straw burning accounted for 16 per cent of Delhi's PM2.5 pollution on Sunday and this could increase to 30 to 32 per cent on Monday, reported PTI, citing Decision Support System for Air Quality Management of the Union government, which assesses the paddy burning would increase in days to come.

The air quality of Delhi is expected to remain 'very poor' on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to forecast shared by PTI.

"Officials from the India Meteorological Department stated that the air quality in Delhi-NCR will remain 'very poor' for the next few days due to a drop in temperature and the influx of emissions from stubble burning," reported PTI further, adding that little rainfall in slow wind has added to the situation.

Delhi govt scrambles to curb air pollution

As air pollution envelops Delhi again, the AAP government has scrambled to curb the crisis. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai held meetings with 28 departments on Monday and a slew of instructions were issued. 

The instructions included the identification of eight more pollution hotspots, usage of dust suppressants, ban on coal and firewood for cooking, ban on diesel generators, decongestion of traffic, etc. 

Rai announced that the AAP government decided to implement the Graded Response Action Plan's (GRAP) Stage II upon AQI breaching the 300-mark. The stage involves an increase in parking fees to discourage the usage of private vehicles and an increase in the frequency of metro and bus services.

Here are the list of measures adopted by the Delhi government on Monday:

1. Eight new hotspots were identified in addition to the 13 identified earlier. These hotspots are: These locations include Shadipur, ITO, Mandir Marg, Nehru Nagar, Patparganj, Sonia Vihar, Dhyan Chand Stadium, and Moti Bagh. Rai said that special teams shall be dispatched to these areas to check for polluting activities and take corrective action in partnership with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).

2.  Directions have been issued to use dust suppressant powder in anti-smog guns to prevent dust pollution. Moreover, the usage of diesel generators for non-emergency purposes has also been banned. The usage of firewood and coal in eateries and hotels for cooking has also been banned.

3. Delhi Metro and Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) have been asked to increases frequency of services to encourage the usage of public transport. The Delhi Traffic Police has also been asked to decongest 95 traffic hotspots. 

4. The 'Red Light On Gaadi Off' initiative to check vehicular emissions has been relaunched. Under the initiative, drivers would be encouraged to switch off their vehicles while waiting at traffic red lights. The PTI reported that a study by the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) showed that this could reduce emissions by 9 per cent. Rai, however, specified that 'Odd, Even' scheme in which cars with odd and even numbers are allowed on the roads on alternate days is not on the cards.