Delhi’s Air Quality Deteriorates, Mumbai also Facing Pollution Issues
The air quality in Delhi has once again reached the severe category, following a slight improvement the previous day. Mumbai, on the other hand, is experiencing a worsening situation since it was declared one of the world’s most polluted cities last weekend.
Delhi and surrounding cities are currently covered in a blanket of toxic smog, leading to the closure of schools and the reintroduction of the stricter odd-even rule after four years. This morning, Delhi recorded an overall air quality index (AQI) of 418. Some of the worst-affected areas include Punjabi Bagh (460), Narela (448), Bawana (462), Anand Vihar (452), and Rohini (451). The situation is similarly dire in Noida, Gurugram, and other nearby cities, with Noida’s average AQI at 409, Gurugram at 370, Faridabad at 396, and Ghaziabad at 382.
In Mumbai, the AQI this morning stood at 165. To address the potential rise in respiratory health problems due to pollution, a hospital has established a specialized Intensive Respiratory Care Unit in the city. Despite its geographic advantage of being located on the coast and surrounded by water on three sides, Mumbai still faces pollution challenges.
A combination of factors, including vehicular emissions and agricultural stubble burning, is being blamed for the air pollution in Delhi. Authorities in the city have raised the pollution alert to its highest level. The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) stage-4, a set of anti-pollution guidelines, has been implemented, leading to the ban of diesel trucks and construction activities in the national capital.
Additionally, the odd-even rule, which restricts vehicular traffic based on registration numbers, will be enforced for a week starting the day after Diwali. The Supreme Court has also clarified that its 2021 order mandating the use of only green firecrackers applies nationwide, not just in Delhi-NCR. In Mumbai, the Bombay High Court has set a specific timeframe of 7-10 pm for fireworks during Diwali.
The pollution crisis in Delhi and Mumbai highlights the urgent need for comprehensive measures to tackle air pollution and protect public health.
