Delhi’s Air Quality Worsens: Severe Pollution and Political Debates
On Sunday, the air quality in New Delhi deteriorated significantly, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 352, categorized as ‘very poor’. This was a decline from Saturday’s AQI of 255, which was ‘poor’. In Anand Vihar, the AQI hit 405, marked as ‘severe’, worsening from 367 the previous day. Akshardham Temple and IGI Airport also recorded ‘very poor’ AQI levels of 261 and 324, respectively.
A thick smog covered parts of the city, causing discomfort among residents and visitors. Himanshu, a visitor, described the pollution as ‘suffocating’ and urged the government to take action. A local cyclist expressed difficulties in breathing and fatigue, despite taking precautions like wearing a bandana. He suggested that the government should promote public transport and carpooling as current measures seem ineffective.
With the festival of lights approaching, the Delhi government has banned firecrackers until January 1 to curb pollution. Toxic foam in the Yamuna River remains a concern, sparking political debates. BJP leader Shazia Ilmi criticized the Delhi government for its handling of the pollution crisis, citing the health risks posed by the toxic foam. BJP leader Virendraa Sachdeva fell ill after a dip in the river, highlighting the public health issue.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai accused the BJP of contributing to the pollution and called for collaborative efforts to address the issue. He criticized the BJP for not responding to his winter action plan suggestions.
Doubts Revealed
AQI -: AQI stands for Air Quality Index. It is a number used to tell how clean or polluted the air is. A higher number means the air is more polluted.
Anand Vihar -: Anand Vihar is a place in Delhi, India. It is known for being a busy area with a lot of traffic and people.
Toxic foam -: Toxic foam is harmful bubbles that form on water bodies like rivers. It is caused by pollution and can be dangerous for people and animals.
Yamuna River -: The Yamuna River is a major river in India that flows through Delhi. It is an important water source but often gets polluted.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of the major political parties in India.
Shazia Ilmi -: Shazia Ilmi is a leader from the BJP. She is involved in politics and often speaks about issues in Delhi.
Gopal Rai -: Gopal Rai is the Environment Minister of Delhi. He works on issues related to the environment and pollution in the city.
