Delhi air pollution LIVE: AQI at 471; BJP leaders distribute masks

During an awareness-cum-mask distribution programme at Anand Vihar, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva slammed Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Atishi, alleging the government’s inaction in addressing the pollution crisis.

“The people of Delhi are struggling for their breaths while Kejriwal and Atishi are defending AAP government in Punjab where crop stubble burning is choking the national capital. The condition of damaged roads and dust pollution has worsened the situation further,” Mr. Sachdeva claimed.

Former Union Minister Vijay Goel staged a protest at ITO, and alleged that the AAP government in Delhi has failed to help the people struggling against the persisting hazardous air in the city.

-PTI

Delhi’s 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) was 471 at 1 p.m., according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) data.

The 24-hour level of PM2.5 (a chief pollutant) is also showing a sharp decline on Tuesday in most places in Delhi, compared to Monday, according to Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) data.

-Nikhil M. Babu

Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the Centre has not acted on the Delhi government’s repeated requests to allow artificial rain in the national capital and he will again write to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.

“Delhi is under GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) Stage IV restrictions, and we are taking every possible step to reduce vehicular and industrial pollution. Restrictions have been imposed on private vehicles and trucks, aiming to curb the number of vehicles entering the city.

“We are consulting specialists to explore measures to reduce the smog. One of the solutions under consideration is artificial rain, which can help settle pollutants and clear the air,” Mr. Rai said.

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As the national capital continues to grapple with an ‘airpocalypse,’ Delhi BJP MP Manoj Tiwari distributed masks to the public at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station as air quality remains in the ‘severe plus’ category on Tuesday. Mr. Tiwari along with other party members handed out N95 masks to the people as a measure to protect them from the polluted air and also from the transfer of microorganisms, body fluids and particulate material.

Mr. Tiwari highlighted the growing concern over pollution in Delhi, drawing a comparison between the current situation and the imposition of an Emergency, implying a sense of urgency and crisis.

“This is like imposing Emergency. Mistakes have been made by AAP and Arvind Kejriwal’s govt but the consequences are faced by the people of Delhi. I think we all need to wake up now. We are trying to create awareness of wearing masks but there needs to be a concrete solution which only BJP can give,” Manoj Tiwari told ANI.

As Punjab’s average air quality index (AQI) continued to hover in ‘moderate’ to ‘poor’ category, the State saw a maximum single day spike in farm fires on Monday (November 18, 2024) during the ongoing ‘kharif’ harvesting season.

The data reveals that the average farm fire numbers were on a relatively higher side when compared to the incidents before October 26. Stubble burning around autumn every year has been one of the contributing factors to air pollution across the country’s northern region including the National Capital – New Delhi and surrounding areas.

Punjab sees season’s maximum single day spike in farm fires at 1,251

According to Punjab Pollution Control Board data based on satellite imagery on November 18 as many as 1,251 cases of farm fire occurrence were reported in Punjab.

Delhi Minister Gopal Rai has said that he will ask the the Union Environment Minister once again to call an emergency meeting on pollution and allow artificial rain

-PTI

Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday left it to lawyers to either opt for online mode of appearance or appear in person for their cases, following the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)‘ s Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) restrictions in the national capital due to air pollution.

The clarification was in response to requests made in open court by Supreme Court Bar Association president, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan for courts to go completely online considering the GRAP-IV restrictions.

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Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday (November 18, 2024) said he has ordered the Health Department to form a special task force at Lok Nayak Hospital to handle medical emergencies related to pollution. 

The direction came as worsening air quality led to a rise in the number of patients complaining of respiratory issues across the city hospitals.

Delhi air pollution: Hospitals see spike in patients with respiratory issues 

Delhi air pollution: Delhi Environment Minister orders special task force at Lok Nayak Hospital to handle pollution-related medical emergencies.