India’s capital Delhi records the world’s most toxic air yet again

‘We can feel it in our eyes’

The air quality in India’s capital Delhi has plunged yet again to “very poor” levels and officials have warned of further deterioration.

The start of the winter every year sees Delhi’s air quality – which is polluted throughout the year – worsen significantly due to burning of stubble by farmers in nearby regions. The air quality is further exacerbated by urban activities like construction and pollution from vehicles.

On Tuesday, the air quality index (AQI) for most regions of Delhi was in the orange category, with some stations in west Delhi reporting levels of over 300 that come under the red category.

According to the India’s National Air Quality Index, levels between 101 and 200 are considered moderate while those between 201 and 300 are poor. Anything over 300 is “very poor” and a figure greater than 500 is “severe”.

On Monday, the level of PM 2.5 – fine particulate matter that can clog lungs and cause a host of diseases – was 306 in the city, according to government data.

In November, Indians celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali where burning fireworks has been a part of the celebrations. Bans on bursting fireworks in the national capital at the time air quality deteriorates are flouted by citizens every year.

Officials are warning that this year again, the air quality is expected to remain in the “very poor” levels for a long time, making it dangerous for sensitive groups.

Residents too have complained about smog in the city, which they say has worsened in recent days.

“I think pollution levels have been rising in Delhi for the past 10-12 days. We can feel it in our eyes,” a cyclist told news agency ANI.

Delhi’s environment minister Gopal Rai said on Monday that actions as per stage II of the city’s Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) kicked in earlier than usual this year.

The plan includes measures like water sprinklers, smog guns, an increase in parking charges to discourage use of vehicles, an increase of the frequency of buses and metros.

The minister said that in addition to the 13 pollution hotspots identified so far, special teams would be deployed at eight other locations which have recorded high pollution levels.

“They will focus on the sources of pollution, whether it be biomass burning, dust, congestion, or cars,” Mr Rai said.

All these moves have been in use in Delhi in the recent years, but experts said they help very little, if at all. Delhi’s pollution is a complex mix of the smoke coming from burning crop and the city’s transport pollution.

Meanwhile, the overall air quality in Mumbai, which had worsened in recent days, remained in the “moderate” category with the AQI at 132, as per SAFAR-India, a government initiative.