Delhi’s Air Quality Worsens: Smog and Health Concerns Rise
On Sunday, a thin layer of smog covered parts of New Delhi, causing the Air Quality Index (AQI) to remain in the ‘very poor’ category. Most areas recorded an AQI over 350, raising health concerns. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported Delhi’s AQI at 364 at 7 AM. Specific areas like New Moti Bagh, RK Puram, and Vivek Vihar recorded AQIs of 352, 380, and 388 respectively, all indicating ‘very poor’ air quality. Nehru Nagar and Anand Vihar faced ‘severe’ air quality with AQIs of 431 and 427.
Aditya, a local resident, expressed difficulty in breathing and eye irritation due to the pollution. In response, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced the deployment of 200 mobile anti-smog guns to combat dust pollution. These guns will operate in three shifts, spraying water to control dust levels. The Delhi government is actively working to address pollution from dust, vehicles, and biomass burning.
On Saturday, the AQI was recorded at 296 in Delhi, with areas like Anand Vihar and RK Puram showing ‘very poor’ levels. Meanwhile, Mumbai also experienced smog with an AQI of 208, categorized as ‘poor’.
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 AQI means the air is more polluted and can be harmful to health.
Smog -: Smog is a type of air pollution that looks like a thick fog. It is made up of smoke and other pollutants, making it hard to breathe and see.
Nehru Nagar and Anand Vihar -: Nehru Nagar and Anand Vihar are areas in Delhi, India. They are mentioned because they have very high levels of air pollution.
Gopal Rai -: Gopal Rai is the Environment Minister of Delhi. He is responsible for taking care of the environment and dealing with pollution issues in the city.
Anti-smog guns -: Anti-smog guns are machines that spray water into the air to help reduce dust and pollution. They are used to improve air quality by settling dust particles.
Biomass burning -: Biomass burning is when people burn natural materials like wood, crop waste, or leaves. This can cause a lot of smoke and pollution in the air.
