Connaught Place in Delhi was covered in dense smog on Thursday afternoon
By Kumar Vikram
New Delhi, November 2: This is the beginning of November, and winter is yet to arrive. But, the entire National Capital Region (NCR) is once again shrouded in dense fog. Emergency rooms are filling up with wheezing kids. Air quality index has soared to dangerous levels, marking a recurring annual ordeal for people.
Remarkably, this is the situation when Government has been spending hundreds of crores towards combatting air pollution. Government data reveals that over Rs 9000 crores have been allocated during the years 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23 to combat air pollution. However, this substantial funding has yielded little respite from the persistent pollution crisis.
These funds were disbursed to State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB) and Pollution Control Committees (PCC) to undertake measures aimed at curbing air pollution. The allocations comprised Rs 8357.55 crores under the XV Finance Commission air quality grant for cities with populations exceeding 49 million, along with an additional Rs 948.33 crores provided by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to improve air quality in 82 non-attainment cities.
Delhi’s air quality has deteriorated significantly in recent days, with the air quality index reaching 351 at 10 am today. Several areas within the city, such as Punjabi Bagh, Bawana, Mundka, and Anand Vihar, have recorded severe air quality readings, with AQI exceeding 400. PM2.5 levels in these regions have surged to six to seven times the safe limit, reaching up to 420 micrograms per cubic meter.
Neighbouring cities like Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad are also grappling with dangerous levels of air pollution. For the sixth consecutive day, Delhi’s air quality remains in the “very poor” category, with AQI levels in at least five monitoring stations classified as “severe” (401 to 500).
Meanwhile, Children are among the most severely impacted by this persistent air pollution crisis. Reports suggest a substantial increase in daily emergency room visits due to acute respiratory symptoms in Delhi’s children on days with high pollution levels.
While the government claims to have undertaken multiple measures to combat pollution, the situation remains dire. Among the government’s initiatives are a transition from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel and vehicle standards, the expansion of public transport networks through metro rail, and the development of expressways and highways to reduce fuel consumption and pollution.
Additionally, the government has created the Commission for Air Quality Improvement in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Area (CAQM) through an act passed by the Parliament in August 2021. CAQM is tasked with improving air quality in the NCR and adjoining areas. Despite these actions, pollution continues to plague the region, with residents yearning for cleaner air and a safer environment.
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