Alarming Air Quality in Delhi: A Warning from Environmentalist Vimlendhu Jha
As the air quality in Delhi worsens, environmentalist Vimlendhu Jha has raised concerns about the situation. He warns that the air quality might reach a severe category for several weeks due to falling temperatures. November 13 marks the 15th day with the Air Quality Index (AQI) around 390, categorized as very poor. In some areas, the AQI has already reached 400, indicating a very alarming situation.
Jha noted that a blanket of smog covered various parts of Delhi, and while rain might bring temporary relief, smoke from farm fires in Punjab and Haryana will continue to affect the air quality. With temperatures expected to drop further, the AQI could remain in the severe category for weeks.
He emphasized that vehicle pollution contributes to 50% of the air pollution and urged the government and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to take proactive measures. Jha stressed the importance of addressing public health emergencies promptly.
On Wednesday, a dense smog layer covered Delhi, with the AQI at 361, categorized as ‘Very Poor.’ Residents reported low visibility and health issues like eye irritation, runny nose, breathlessness, and cough. The AQI in Anand Vihar was 399, 382 in Punjabi Bagh, and 376 in Ashok Vihar, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.
Doubts Revealed
Vimlendhu Jha -: Vimlendhu Jha is a person who works to protect the environment. He talks about problems like pollution and tries to find ways to make the air cleaner.
Air Quality Index (AQI) -: The Air Quality Index, or AQI, is a number that tells us how clean or dirty the air is. A higher number means the air is more polluted and can be bad for our health.
390 AQI -: An AQI of 390 is considered very poor, which means the air is very polluted and can cause health problems for people, especially those with breathing issues.
Farm fires -: Farm fires happen when farmers burn leftover crops in their fields. This creates a lot of smoke, which can make the air dirty and hard to breathe.
Punjab and Haryana -: Punjab and Haryana are states in India where many farmers grow crops. Sometimes, the smoke from farm fires in these states can travel to nearby places like Delhi, making the air polluted.
Proactive measures -: Proactive measures are actions taken to solve a problem before it gets worse. In this case, it means doing things to stop the air from getting more polluted.
Public health emergency -: A public health emergency is a situation where many people’s health is at risk because of something like pollution. It means the government needs to act quickly to keep people safe.
Dense smog -: Dense smog is a thick layer of dirty air that makes it hard to see and breathe. It is caused by pollution and can be harmful to our health.