Delhi is turning into a gas chamber with the air quality index hitting the hazardous 400-500 'severe plus' category. Schools have been shifted to online mode, companies forced to announce work-from-home for their employees, and vehicles face restrictions.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva and Union Minister Harsh Malhotra took part in the demonstration, wearing respiratory masks to raise awareness among the people about the dangers of increasing pollution.
He emphasized the alarming rise in pollution levels, which have been exacerbated by stubble burning and other factors, with several areas recording very high AQI readings surpassing 400.
A day after a minimal drop, the Air Quality Index (AQI) on Saturday again reached the ‘severe’ category with a combination of smog and fog enveloping the national capital, reducing the visibility to 200 meters in the morning.
The decision came during a high-level meeting Rai held with the officials on the implementation of GRAP-III restrictions in the city.
The Haryana government has prepared the Yamuna Action Plan, which envisages control of pollution of all 11 drains that discharge treated or untreated effluents into the Yamuna river, the Assembly was told on Wednesday.
On Monday, the SAFAR recorded Delhi's AQI at 317. At the Delhi University area, the air quality was recorded 'very poor' with the presence of PM 2.5 in the air recorded at 371, whereas the Pusa area recorded it at 341.
The Delhi government had imposed restrictions on BS-III and BS-IV vehicles in view of rising pollution. But the curbs were ended on Sunday.
Continuing its attack on the Centre, the Aam Aadmi Party on Friday said the Union government is accusing Punjab of spreading pollution by burning stubble in order to hide its failures.
L-G Saxena named the present situation, a violation of the citizens' fundamental right to health and the right to life. "
