Air Pollution: AAP Says Punjab Stubble Burning Not Polluting Delhi; City Schools to Stay Shut

Delhi Air Pollution Updates: It is another day of ‘severe’ category air pollution and a thick blanket of toxic haze for residents of Delhi-NCR with the Air Quality Index (AQI) standing at 457 at 5am today, as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) figures.

The closure of primary and high schools in Delhi has been extended till November 10 due to the deteriorating air pollution levels, minister Atishi announced on Sunday, adding that for Grade 6-12, schools are being given the option of shifting to online classes.

The air quality has been severe in Delhi and adjoining areas for the past three days now, with no respite being seen anytime soon amid stubble burning and upcoming Diwali festival, during which people are likely to burst crackers.

While Delhi and NCR continue to be under toxic air, Kolkata and Mumbai too have featured in the list of world’s most polluted cities today, as per a Swiss air quality technology company.

Delhi Air Pollution News Latest Updates:

 -Severe Category AQI According to CPCB data, The air quality index in most parts of Delhi today morning was recorded above the 400-mark, which falls under Severe’ category. Reports suggest that no major relief is expected anytime soon, a western disturbance November 7 unlikely to impact the plains. We may not see any major change yet,” Kuldeep Srivastava of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

As per CPCB, an AQI of 0-50 is considered ‘Good’ with minimal impact, AQI of 51-100 forms ‘Satisfactory’ category with minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people, 101-200 is the ‘Moderate’ category which can lead to breathing discomfort to the people with lungs, asthma and heart diseases, 201-300 is the ‘Poor’ category with possibilities of breathing discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure, 301-400 AQI is the ‘Very Poor’ category with possible health impact of respiratory illness on prolonged exposure, and an AQI of 401-500 is the ‘Severe’ category that can affect healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases.

-Delhi School Closure Extended: Primary and high Schools in Delhi shall continue to remain closed till November 10, minister Atishi announced on Sunday, adding that option of classes being shifted to online mode is being given to schools for Grade 6 to 12.

-Choking Haze Continues Over Delhi-NCR: A thick blanket of haze, that resembles what the end of an apocalypse would look like, continues to blanket Delhi and adjoining areas like Noida and Ghaziabad.

Residents have been complaining of burning sensation in eyes, coughing and other issues triggered by the air pollution. Ajay, a morning walker in Lodhi Garden, said, “The situation of pollution is such that we are experiencing a burning sensation in our eyes. The situation was better earlier, but now it is getting worse..”

-Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai Among Most Polluted Cities in World: Data by Swiss air quality tech company IQAir listed Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai among the world’s most polluted cities today.

While Delhi topped the list, with an AQI of 483 at 7.30 am today, Kolkata and Mumbai were among the top five worst-hit cities by air pollution with an AQI of 206 and 162 respectively.

Punjab Stubble Burning Not Polluting Delhi, Says AAP: Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Sunday blamed Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for “planning to increase pollution of Delhi”, saying that the two states have not banned fire crackers till now.

Responding to allegations of smog tower in city’s Connaught Place being inoperational due to non-payment by the Centre, Rai said, “Smog towers were built, but no one is talking about Anand Vihar smog tower… CP smog tower was closed illegaly… I have written letter to government to take action against responsible officers.”

Rai also said that Punjab stubble burning is not polluting Delhi. “Because wind is slow and that pollution is not reaching… Haryana and UP stubble burning is polluting Delhi because these states are closer than Punjab,” Rai said.

-Delhi Govt Seeks Ban on Entry of Polluting Vehicles Into NCR: Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai on Saturday said that despite the slight improvement from the past two days, Delhi will be in a “critical situation” over the next few days owing to Diwali and more stubble (parali) burning incidents in neighbouring states.

Rai wrote to the central government to ban entry of polluting vehicles into the NCR, and asked the Centre to convene a meeting with the environment ministers’ of the states concerned.

“Considering the coincidence of Diwali and more parali burning incidents expected in neighbouring states, the ambient air quality of the city is expected to deteriorate… Hence, may I request you to effectively ban entry of vehicles non compliant to BS6 norms into Delhi… I further request you to convene an emergency meeting of neighbouring states’ environment ministers including UP, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab and Delhi to address this important issue,” Rai said in his letter.

Delhi government has declared a ban on BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel vehicles within the city until further notice and also prohibited the entry of private buses from other states with BS4 diesel certifications.

Sri Lanka-Bangladesh ICC World Cup Match Tomorrow in Delhi: Will Venue Change? Delhi welcomed Sri Lanka and Bangladesh amid severe air pollution for its final ODI World Cup 2023 fixture. In view of the air quality, Bangladesh team cancelled their training session on Friday as they didn’t want to take a chance and so did, the Lankans a day after. Sri Lanka were scheduled to train on Saturday afternoon – from 2 PM to 5 PM – at the Arun Jaitely Stadium in Delhi but cancelled the session due to the rising air pollution as the players decided not to step out from their team hotel.

However, Bangladesh, unlike Friday, trained at the venue on Saturday but with masks on. The coaches and the players hit the nets a light session with their faces covered.

According to the government’s ‘early warning system’, the air pollution will remain at ‘severe’ levels up until Monday. Given that, there are still no signs of the game getting moved out of the city. It’s up to the ICC and the match officials to take the final call on whether the game should go ahead or be called off on Monday.