Delhi’s Air Quality Worsens: Smog, Pollution, and Political Debates
On October 28, New Delhi experienced heavy smog as the air quality remained in the ‘Very Poor’ category. The Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 328, slightly better than the previous day’s 356. Areas like Anand Vihar and Akshardham temple showed AQI levels of 357, indicating severe pollution.
Despite a ban on firecrackers, emissions from firecrackers and stubble burning are expected to keep the air quality poor. SAFAR noted that current weather conditions are not helping to disperse pollutants.
Vansh Aggarwal, a student, urged the government to use new techniques to tackle pollution, emphasizing that multiple factors contribute to the issue, not just Diwali celebrations. He compared the air quality in Greater Noida and Delhi, finding Delhi’s worse.
Sukhram, another resident, reported health issues due to pollution, prompting him to return to his village in Meerut. He mentioned difficulty in breathing and sleeping due to the pollution and heat.
The Yamuna River in Kalindi Kunj continues to suffer from high pollution levels, leading to political debates between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). BJP president Virendra Sachdeva was hospitalized after protesting against alleged corruption related to river cleaning funds. Delhi’s environment minister, Gopal Rai, criticized the BJP for contributing to pollution and called for collaborative efforts to address the issue.
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.
Smog -: Smog is a type of air pollution that looks like a thick fog. It is caused by smoke and other pollutants mixing with the air, making it hard to see and breathe.
Stubble burning -: Stubble burning is when farmers set fire to the leftover straw and stalks in their fields after harvesting crops. This practice creates a lot of smoke and adds to air pollution.
AAP -: AAP stands for Aam Aadmi Party. It is a political party in India that mainly operates in Delhi and was founded to fight against corruption.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of the two major political parties in India and is currently the ruling party at the national level.
Yamuna River -: The Yamuna River is a major river in India that flows through Delhi. It is important for water supply but is heavily polluted, causing environmental and health issues.
Gopal Rai -: Gopal Rai is a politician from the Aam Aadmi Party. He is the Environment Minister of Delhi, responsible for addressing issues related to pollution and the environment.
