A thick, grey haze has returned to the National Capital Region, with air quality sliding into the “very poor” category, as crop-residue fires, still weather-conditions and delayed regulation combine to tighten a choking hold on the city’s atmosphere.
A thick layer of smog enveloped Delhi and its satellite cities on Monday as the city’s air quality plunged deep into the “very poor” category, triggering health concerns and public outrage. The capital’s worsening air quality is being blamed on the growing number of farm fires in Punjab and Haryana, calm weather conditions, and delayed official response.
Data from the Central Pollution Control Board showed that Delhi’s overall AQI was 316, down from 366 on Sunday, but still severely polluted. The AQI was above 340 in several NCR cities, including Gurugram, Ghaziabad, and Noida.
A combination of crop residue burning and stagnant winds has trapped pollutants over the capital, experts said. Punjab alone reported 178 new stubble-burning cases on Sunday, which pushed the season’s total past 2,200 incidents, with nearly 64% of them coming from eight districts.
The Supreme Court has pulled up the Commission for Air Quality Management, or CAQM, for its failure to act proactively. A bench said that the authorities, at best, wait until pollution becomes dangerous before they start enforcing restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan. The court slammed the government over the dysfunctional monitoring stations-only 9 out of 37 were operational during peak pollution days.
The worsening air has sparked anger among citizens, particularly after a Delhi marathon was held over the weekend despite the hazardous conditions. Social media users slammed the organizers for “putting lives at risk” as participants ran through the smog-filled streets.
Strong health warnings have been issued by doctors. Pulmonologist Dr. Gopi Chand Khilnani said people who suffer from respiratory or heart diseases should temporarily leave the city. “Polluted air is increasingly causing lung cancer among non-smokers and damaging the heart, brain, and kidneys,” he said, recommending high-quality air purifiers and minimal outdoor activity. Once more, environmentalists say, the government needs to address farm fires by providing incentives for farmers and implementing bans on burning more effectively. Meanwhile, Delhi residents continue to struggle under the toxic haze, hoping for stronger winds-or stronger action-to clear the air.
