Delhi CM Calls High-Level Meeting as 'Severe Plus' Air Quality Grips the Capital

As the national capital of India grapples with hazardous air quality for the seventh consecutive day, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called for a high-level meeting to address the escalating pollution crisis. With the Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to a perilous 440, the situation is inching toward a 'medical emergency'.

The city has experienced pollution levels that are seven to eight times above the prescribed safe limits, as a toxic haze continues to envelop the region. On Monday, the AQI entered the 'severe plus' category for the second time in three days, driven by adverse wind conditions and a significant surge in farm fires across northern India.

As of 7 am on Monday, the AQI in Delhi stood at a worrying 440, and several towns in neighbouring Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh have also reported hazardous air quality. The 24-hour average AQI, recorded at 4 pm daily, deteriorated from 415 on Saturday to 454 on Sunday, triggering the implementation of all emergency measures mandated under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

GRAP classifies actions into four stages, with Stage IV representing a 'Severe Plus' situation, indicating an AQI of 450 or higher. In response, the Kejriwal government has imposed stringent measures to mitigate the crisis.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), responsible for formulating strategies to combat pollution, has directed Delhi and NCR states to ban construction work related to linear public projects. Additionally, the order permits 50% of government and private office staff to work from home, thereby reducing vehicular congestion and emissions.

Under Stage IV of GRAP, the entry of only CNG, electric, and BS VI-compliant vehicles from other states is allowed in Delhi, with exemptions granted solely for essential services. Furthermore, all medium and heavy goods vehicles not involved in essential services have been banned in the capital as per the latest CAQM order. In a bid to protect young children from hazardous pollution, the Delhi government has also announced the closure of all primary schools for two days, effective until November 10.

The escalation of air pollution in Delhi-NCR can be attributed to a confluence of factors, including unfavourable meteorological conditions, vehicular emissions, paddy straw burning, firecrackers, and other local sources of pollution. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) highlights the period from November 1 to November 15 as the peak pollution season, coinciding with an increase in stubble burning incidents in Punjab and Haryana.

The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) reported a record 4,160 farm fires in northern India on Sunday, marking the highest count this season. Punjab alone accounted for 3,230 stubble-burning incidents, the highest daily total in the state so far, as per data from the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai stated, "There is a slight improvement in Delhi's AQI compared to yesterday, but it still remains in the severe category. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called a meeting to make decisions on how to control pollution in Delhi, with discussions centred on the implementation of GRAP-4."

The escalating air pollution crisis has not escaped political scrutiny. BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla criticized the Aam Aadmi Party government for the deteriorating air quality in Delhi, referring to the city as a 'gas chamber'. Poonawalla asserted, "Delhi has become a gas chamber because CM Arvind Kejriwal and AAP have done polluted politics." He cited Kejriwal's previous promises to resolve the stubble burning issue in Punjab and questioned the efficacy of the measures taken.

The rising AQI in Delhi has been widely attributed to stubble burning in Punjab. However, farmers have expressed their frustration, emphasizing the need for the government to provide viable alternatives and support for sustainable agricultural practices.

As the air quality plunges into the 'severe' category, crossing the 500 mark on several days, healthcare professionals are issuing dire warnings. The medical authorities are highlighting that people are experiencing breathlessness, sore throats, wheezing, coughs, eye irritation, and restlessness. People in the Delhi-NCR region have been advised to use masks to shield against harmful pollutants.

With the national capital trapped in a toxic haze and facing a severe pollution crisis, the high-level meeting called by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal represents a critical step in addressing this pressing issue.