Pollution in Delhi nears emergency, schools shut in NCR also
As air pollution in Delhi plunged to near the emergency level on Wednesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said his Government is mulling extension of the odd-even scheme with the Supreme Court-mandated anti-pollution authority EPCA ordering closure of Delhi-NCR schools till November 15.
However, the SC issued a notice to the Delhi Government on a plea challenging the odd-even. The apex court had earlier questioned the Delhi Government as to what it was achieving from the odd-even scheme by stopping plying of cars that are less polluting compared to two and three-wheelers and taxis.
The SC directed the Government and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to place before it the data of pollution in Delhi from October till November 14 this year and from October 1 to December 31, 2018.
“Let the Government of NCT of Delhi... file data in this regard in the court on the basis of the previous experience and whether three-wheelers and taxies are plying more on roads during such restrictions and relevant data be placed,” the bench had said.
The overall air quality index in Delhi on Wednesday was 454 at 3.30 pm. Rohini was the most-polluted area with an AQI of 486, followed by Nehru Nagar (484) and Jahangirpuri (483). Faridabad (442), Ghaziabad (464), Greater Noida (460), Gurugram (448) and Noida (468) also choked on extremely polluted air.
While talking about extending the odd-even scheme beyond November 15, Kejriwal appealed to Opposition parties to shun their resistance to the scheme. “Pollution has increased drastically. All of Delhi is demanding the odd-even and at such a time the Opposition should support the people’s wish,” he said. The scheme, implemented from November 4, is to end on November 15. “If the need arises, we will extend it (odd-even scheme),” the CM said.
Kejriwal blamed stubble burning in neighbouring States for episodes of rising air pollution in Delhi.
“I remember German Chancellor Angela Merkel was in Delhi a few days ago... when a public health emergency was declared. What kind of image of Delhi she must have carried to her country?” he said.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences’ air quality monitor SAFAR said Delhi’s neighbouring States recorded only 480 incidents of stubble burning on Tuesday and the share of smoke from farm fires in Delhi’s pollution is likely to decrease to 13 per cent on Thursday “in spite of favourable transport-level wind trajectory”.
However, air quality is likely to improve on Friday with an increase in wind speed due to a fresh western disturbance and a dip in farm fires, the SAFAR said on Wednesday.
Delhi-NCR gasped for breath as the noxious smog resulting from raging farm fires and unfavourable weather pushed pollution levels in the region towards the “emergency” zone for the third time in the last 15 days.
Incidents of stubble burning in Haryana and Punjab have increased and northwesterly winds have been bringing more farm fire plume to the Delhi-NCR region, said weather experts.
Kejriwal blamed neighbouring States, especially Haryana and Punjab, for deteriorating pollution and said the States are burning crop residue disregarding strict directions from the SC.
Kejriwal said the number of farm fires reduced in between due to rains in Punjab and Haryana. It led to a decline in Delhi’s pollution.
“The incidents of stubble burning have shot up again. These states are not even following the Supreme Court’s directions. Delhi people are suffering because of it,” he said.
Kejriwal reiterated that paddy straw can be used to produce compressed natural gas and coal which will also increase the income of farmers.
“I have met many experts. I am myself an engineer. Stubble can be converted into CNG. The foundation stone of an industry that can convert paddy straw into CNG has been laid. I have talked to Indraprastha Gas Limited and they are ready to procure all CNG produced from stubble,” he said.
Many factories, which can convert stubble into coal, have come up in Punjab. National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd is ready to purchase the coal produced through this method, he said, adding these measures will also help generate employment and increase the income of farmers.
An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’ and 401-500 ‘severe’. An AQI above 500 falls in the ‘severe plus’ category.
