NEW DELHI: The air quality in New Delhi worsened on Sunday, with the Air Quality Index(AQI) recorded at 352, falling into the ‘very poor’ category, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).
The AQI in the Anand Vihar area exceeded 400, reaching 405 at 7am, categorized as ‘severe,’ compared to 367 recorded on Saturday.
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Other areas also reported concerning levels; the AQI at Akshardham Temple deteriorated to 261, while IGI Airport recorded an AQI of 324, both in the ‘very poor’ category. The city experienced a thick layer of smog in certain areas.
Himanshu, a visitor to Delhi, described the pollution as “suffocating” and urged the government to take action to reduce it. A daily cyclist in the city shared similar concerns, stating, “We can’t breathe properly; we get tired faster due to the pollution. We take precautions like wearing a bandana, but nothing seems to work as pollution levels continue to rise.”
The cyclist also noted that the government’s measures, such as stopping construction and implementing the odd-even rule, do not seem effective. He added, “There should be constructive measures to encourage people to use public transport and carpooling.”
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari criticized the AAP government, stating, “Pollution in Delhi is at a life-threatening level. Since 2015, Arvind Kejriwal has claimed he would take a dip in the Yamuna, but he has yet to do so because the river is dirty and the situation is dire due to pollution.”
He further stated, “Arvind Kejriwal can install 40 air purifiers in his large bungalows and hotels, but what about the person living in a slum? What about the poor who cannot afford an air purifier? Arvind Kejriwal will not understand this because he has become the party of only one special person; his job is to make money through liquor scams, not to serve the public.”
Ahead of the festival of lights, the Delhi government has banned firecrackers until January 1 to control pollution. The situation is further aggravated by toxic foam on the Yamuna River in Kalindi Kunj.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai criticized the BJP in return, suggesting that all parties should cooperate and highlighting the ineffectiveness of mere dramatics in solving pollution.
“I believe all governments and parties need to work together. When I was preparing the winter action plan, I wrote to the BJP President, but I have yet to receive any response or suggestions,” said Gopal Rai.
(With Agency Inputs)