Delhi-NCR suffocates as air quality hits ‘severe plus’ 500-mark

Delhi’s air quality plummets to alarming levels

The National Capital Region (NCR) is grappling with a severe air pollution crisis. On Tuesday morning, the Air Quality Index (AQI) surged to an alarming 500 in several parts of Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram. This marked the seventh consecutive day of hazardous smog levels, pushing the region into a “severe plus” category and triggering widespread health concerns.

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), areas like Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Bawana, Jahangirpuri, and Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in Delhi recorded AQI levels of 500 as early as 5 a.m. The ‘severe plus’ designation indicates a public health emergency, with air quality so poor it can cause significant health risks even for healthy individuals.

The extreme pollution levels are attributed to adverse weather conditions, including low winds and temperature inversions, which trap pollutants close to the ground. In addition, ongoing stubble burning in neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana continues to contribute significantly to the toxic air.

In response to the escalating crisis, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and his administration have declared the situation a “medical emergency.” Urging urgent action, the Delhi government has advised residents to avoid outdoor activities and has ordered various precautionary measures. Several schools and colleges across the NCR have switched to online classes, and in-person attendance for students in Classes 10 and 12 has been suspended until further notice.

Major educational institutions such as Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) have also canceled physical classes and transitioned to virtual learning until November 22, 2024, to safeguard the health of students and staff.

The Supreme Court has stepped into the crisis, ordering all states within the Delhi-NCR region to immediately deploy enforcement teams to implement the highest level of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The Court emphasized the states’ constitutional responsibility to ensure a pollution-free environment for all citizens and declared that restrictions would remain in place until further orders.

Under GRAP Stage 4, several stringent measures have been put in place, including a ban on all non-essential trucks entering Delhi, with exemptions for those carrying essential goods or using clean fuels like LNG, CNG, or electric power. Light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi are also prohibited, except for electric, CNG, and BS-VI diesel vehicles. Additionally, all construction activities—including those on highways, roads, flyovers, power lines, and public infrastructure projects—have been halted until air quality improves.

On Monday, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena launched a new anti-smog misting system in Dwarka as part of the Delhi Development Authority‘s (DDA) efforts to tackle the air pollution crisis. The misting system is designed to reduce airborne particulate matter, offering a promising solution to mitigate the toxic haze that has plagued the capital.

During the launch, L-G Saxena emphasized the importance of adopting “innovative and sustainable measures” to protect the health of Delhi’s residents. “This anti-smog misting system is a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to reduce pollution and create a healthier living environment for all,” he said.

The severity of Delhi’s air quality crisis continues to deepen, with no immediate relief in sight. The CPCB’s AQI scale defines levels between 0 and 50 as ‘good’, 51-100 as ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 as ‘moderate’, 201-300 as ‘poor’, 301-400 as ‘very poor’, 401-450 as ‘severe’, and any figure above 450 as ‘severe plus’. With the AQI hitting the 500-mark, Delhi and its neighboring cities are in uncharted territory, facing the most hazardous air quality levels ever recorded.

As the situation worsens, experts are urging both the government and the public to take urgent action to reduce pollution and protect the health of millions.

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