Delhi is Now the World's 2nd Most Polluted City, After Pakistan's Lahore

NEW DELHI: With Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 350, the air quality in the capital has gotten worse. With an overall AQI of 329 on Friday morning, Delhi's air quality was rated as "extremely poor." A dense, dust-filled grey haze enveloped the city.

According to IQAir, Delhi is the second most polluted city, in the world right behind Lahore in Pakistan. Sources stated that, with an AQI of 350, Anand Vihar in Delhi had the worst reading.

The  day after Diwali, on October 25, Delhi's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 312, which was the second-best reading for Diwali in seven years. Earlier than this, on Diwali of 2018, the city had an AQI of 281.

Beginning on October 24, when the AQI dropped from "poor" to "very bad," the air quality in the nation's capital began to deteriorate.

As per the reports, any reading between 51 and 100 are deemed "satisfactory," anything over 300 is deemed "dangerous" or "severe," while readings between 50 and 50 are regarded "safe."

The Reasons which can cause poor AQI In Delhi are as follows-

• Construction work

• Industrial pollutants

• Stubble burning in neighboring states

• Diwali crackers

• Vehicle emissions,

Burning of Stubble during the winter months is responsible for 46% of Delhi's air pollution, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). Burning slash from Punjab and Haryana adds to Delhi's problems. The Punjab administration made some attempts, but the stubble burning went on, as usual, this year as well.

The Delhi government formed a Special Taskforce to track pollution this year as part of its efforts to reduce pollution. The ban on firecrackers was effectively put into place in Delhi as well. The revenue department established 165 teams, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee established 33 teams, and the Delhi Police established 210 teams under the supervision of assistant commissioners of police (ACPs).

In accordance with the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the nation's capital, the Commission for Air Quality Management has also put pollution prevention measures in place.

There are numerous steps to counter air pollutants concerned in The four-level movement plan which incorporates prohibiting the usage of diesel generators, preventing production activities, growing parking expenses to deter the usage of non-public transport, prohibiting the access of trucks into Delhi besides essential services, or even schools closures to restrict children's exposure to air pollutants.

Also read: Uttar Pradesh: 1 Dead and Several Injured in a Fight Over 'Rasgulla'

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