Home to the world's 10 most polluted cities, India is fighting a far bigger battle with pollution than China. The type of synchronized national approach that has helped China to reduce its pollution levels is still not seen in India.
No relief is seen for Delhiites anytime soon as pollution levels are continuing to rise in the capital city of Delhi. According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research, the average reading in the national capital was recorded at 318 of PM (particulate matter) 2.5 at 9 am on Monday. Dwarka and Narela recorded worst air quality at 361 and 300. respectively.
According to the reports, the air quality of Delhi might depreciate to "severe" category in the coming days as the air is becoming heavier and resulting in formation of smog. Relentless crop burning in the neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana and millions of fireworks expected to go off during the Diwali festival, will only push air pollution to risky levels.
Along with all the above factors, vehicular pollution, construction activities and meteorological factors like direction of wind, which is now flowing from the stubble burning areas are also causing major air pollution in the capital city.
However, Government of India is now pushing new initiatives that would restrain the dangerous air. In fact, the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Protection Control Authority on October 19 had held a meeting with officials of the state governments
of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi to discuss the pollution situation in the national capital.
In the coming weeks, the government’s policies on pollution will be put in test. Government has already been promoting solar power as one of the alternatives, followed by improved emission standards and handed out millions of cooking gas canisters to reduce kitchen fires inside homes. Officials have also tried to ban farmers from burning crops which cause a major amount of pollution, however not much success has been seen so far.
Image Credits – India Today
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