New Delhi continues to battle severe pollution levels, leading authorities to implement emergency measures such as traffic restrictions and school closures. The deteriorating air quality can be attributed to a combination of factors, with vehicle emissions and smoke from crop burning in neighboring states being the main contributors.
Satellite images from NASA’s Worldview have revealed that the toxic smog stretches from Pakistan to the Bay of Bengal. These images also indicate a significant increase in farm fires in North India. Data from NASA shows that the number of farm fires has skyrocketed since October 29, with the state witnessing a 740% surge and recording 1,068 incidents in a single day, marking the highest number for this harvesting season.
On Wednesday morning, some areas in New Delhi recorded an air quality index as high as 500, solidifying its position as the world’s most polluted city for the past six days. As a result, Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), a set of anti-pollution guidelines, has been activated, leading to the ban of diesel trucks and construction activities in the national capital.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Supreme Court has called upon the governments of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to engage in immediate discussions with the central government to find solutions to the farm fires. The court emphasized that this issue should not become a political battle, as the hazardous air quality is causing harm to people’s health, likening it to a “murder.”
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