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.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, and 401 and 500 severe..
Apart from crackers, there are many reasons which contribute towards pollution including, crop burning, emissions of vehicles, and weather patterns.
In a meeting on Wednesday, the CAQM sub-committee "comprehensively reviewed the air quality scenario in the region and noted that the air quality parameters are likely to dip on October 22 in the region making it to move into the 'very poor' category".
Under the anti-dust campaign, 586 teams from 12 government departments will monitor pollution norms' compliance at construction sites in Delhi.
With the onset of winter around the corner, the level of pollutants and dust-particles is expected to go high, like every year.
