Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has scheduled a high-level meeting today at 12:00 pm to address the deteriorating air pollution crisis in the city. The meeting will involve Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai and officials from all relevant departments.
This gathering comes at a time when the national capital is grappling with apocalyptic levels of air pollution. Delhi’s air quality has remained severely polluted for the fifth consecutive day, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) still in the ‘severe’ category. The overall AQI in the city was recorded at 488.
Several areas in Delhi have been significantly affected by the pollution, including RK Puram (466), ITO (402), Patparganj (471), and New Moti Bagh (488).
In response to the escalating air pollution levels, the Delhi government has extended the closure of all schools up to class 5 until November 10. Schools for classes 6-12 are not required to close, but they have the option to conduct online classes if they prefer.
The suffocating smog enveloping Delhi has raised concerns among doctors regarding the rising number of respiratory and eye ailments in children and the elderly.
Microscopic PM2.5 particles, known to cause health issues when inhaled, have soared to levels seven to eight times higher than the government’s safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic meter in various locations across Delhi-NCR in recent days. This is 80 to 100 times higher than the safe limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO) of 5 micrograms per cubic meter.
The Central government has implemented the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) at its highest level in Delhi and surrounding cities, where the air quality remains in the “severe plus” category.
To combat severe air pollution, the GRAP restricts the entry of trucks into Delhi, except for those transporting essential goods, providing essential services, or using LNG, CNG, or electricity as fuel. Only electric, CNG, and BS-VI diesel light commercial vehicles (LCVs) registered outside of Delhi are permitted to enter the city, with exceptions for those carrying essential goods or providing essential services.
All construction and demolition work in Delhi, including public projects such as roads, bridges, and power lines, has been suspended.
The Delhi and central governments may allow public, municipal, and private offices to operate with only half of their staff working from home.
Delhi’s air quality ranks among the worst in capital cities globally, with a University of Chicago report revealing that air pollution reduces life expectancy by nearly 12 years.
