Smog engulfs Rohtak, nearby cities; burning of waste worsens air quality

The emergence of smog has worsened the air quality in Rohtak and nearby cities, with burning of garbage and dust rising from construction sites aggravating the prevailing situation.

As per the official data, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the major cities of Haryana ranged from poor to severe on Wednesday. Rohtak recorded an AQI of 328 on Wednesday, which falls under the 'Severe' category. The AQI of Haryana today was 301. Residents had a tough time walking through a thick blanket of smog since this morning, with the asthmatic patients and those suffering from breathing problems and other related disorders being the worst hit.

"We went to Devi Lal Park for a morning walk today, but could not complete even a single round due to dense fog and high pollution,” said Virender Dangi, a resident.

Many residents also complained of burning sensation in the eyes, sore throat and skin ailments due to the severely polluted and unhealthy air.

"The cases of asthma and other pulmonary diseases have been rising due to the high levels of pollution and poor air quality. The residents, especially the senior citizens and those suffering from such disorders should prefer to stay at home unless necessary. All residents should use face-masks before venturing out in the prevailing weather conditions," states Prof (Dr) Dhruva Chaudhry, head of the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the Rohtak PGIMS.

The masks which had become quite common during the prevalence of the Covid-19 pandemic have also made a comeback, with a number of morning-walkers and commuters seen wearing masks in the parks and at other public places.

"La Nina effect on air quality is evident in different parts of the country. The burning of garbage - or biomass combustion - releases aerosols and toxic gases, which are a major source of air pollution. Dust arising from construction sites, roads and streets also adds to the already critical condition," observes Dr Rajesh Dhankhar, a professor of environment sciences at Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak.

The environment expert said the natural phenomena are beyond our control, but concerted efforts should be made to check the avoidable human activities like burning of garbage etc.

"There should be a special emphasis on maintenance of cleanliness on the roads and streets so as to keep dust pollution under check," the professor asserted.

Meanwhile, the local municipal authorities have deployed anti-smog equipment to provide some relief to the residents.

However, the residents said effective checks on burning of garbage and maintenance of cleanliness are a must to ensure at least manageable living conditions.