NCR in grip of pollution as farm fires rage; Panipat AQI hits 450
Samad Hoque, Mukesh Tandon & Mohit Khanna
Unabated farm fires in Punjab and Haryana coupled with a dip in temperature have worsened the air pollution in the region. The air quality index (AQI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) and several places in Punjab and Haryana on Thursday ranged between the ‘poor’ and ‘severe’ categories.
In New Delhi, air quality hovered in the ‘very poor’ category for the fourth straight day. The AQI in Delhi was recorded at 306 at 4 pm on Thursday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board data. The AQI was comparatively better in the other NCR areas — Faridabad (142), Gurugram (239), Ghaziabad (272), Greater Noida (214) and Noida (169).
Expressing concern over the rising pollution, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the winds were moving in the northwest direction, which could increase the pollution levels in the NCR due to stubble burning in neighbouring states.
“The effect of stubble burning from Haryana and Punjab will be more visible in Delhi. We have put all our departments on alert given the increase in pollution levels,” Rai said.
Air quality is segmented in four categories — Stage I ‘Poor’ (AQI 201-300); Stage II ‘Very Poor’ (AQI 301-400); Stage III ‘Severe’ (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV ‘Severe Plus’ (AQI >450).
The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-II was invoked in Delhi on October 22 and continues to be in force.
The 11-point Stage-II actions include daily mechanical or vacuum sweeping and water sprinkling on roads, dust control measures at construction sites, focused action in identified hotspots across the NCR, ensuring uninterrupted power supply to discourage the use of diesel generators and synchronising traffic flow at congestion points among other measures.
The sub-committee has also included raising parking fee to discourage the use of private vehicles.
The GRAP Stage-II invoked in the NCR enforces a ban on the use of coal and firewood, including tandoors in hotels, restaurants and open eateries, as well as diesel generators sets, except for emergency and essential services.
Dwarka, Rohini, DTU, IGI Airport (T3), ITO, Mundka, Narela, Patparganj, Shadipur, Sonia Vihar, Wazirpur, Alipur, Ashok Vihar, Aya Nagar, Burari, Mandir Marg, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Najafgarh and Nehru Nagar were among 24 areas of the Capital where the AQI was recorded in the ‘very poor’ category on both Wednesday and Thursday morning.
All local hospitals have reported a 40 per cent surge in respiratory ailments related to pollution. The minimum temperature in the city was 20.7°C, three notches above the season’s normal, according to the India Meteorological Department and humidity was 70 per cent at 8.30 am, the IMD said.
To address the air pollution challenge, the Delhi L-G today chaired a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority attended by Chief Minister Atishi who is its vice-chairperson. The L-G stressed the need to reduce internal sources of air pollution.
In Haryana, the AQI slipped to the ‘severe’ category in Panipat, Karnal and Kurukshetra districts on Thursday. According to weather records, the AQI in Panipat was 450, while in Karnal, it was recorded at 402 in the last 24 hours. Kurukshetra’s AQI was 420. Apart from this, the air quality was in ‘very poor’ category in Ambala, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Hisar, Jind, Kaithal and Rohtak.
Stubble burning continued to worsen the AQI with HARSAC satellite imagery capturing 15 farm fires in Haryana.
In Punjab also, the AQI has started to deteriorate in major districts. The industrial town of Mandi Gobindgarh remained the most polluted in the state with AQI touching 222, followed by Amritsar (214) and Jalandhar (176).
Bathinda had the cleanest air in the state with AQI at 72.
Sharing details, Chandigarh Meteorological Centre Director Surendra Paul said dry and hazy conditions would prevail in the region next week. “There appears to be no possibility of any western disturbance in the coming days. So, the possibility of showers or strong wind blowing away dust is highly unlikely,” he said.
As many as 40 stubble-burning incidents were reported across the state. Fourteen incidents were reported in Ferozepur, four in Amritsar and three each in Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran and Sangrur. The total farm fire count has reached 1,638 this season.
