As the winter season draws near, a thick layer of smog enveloped Delhi and its neighboring areas on Saturday, causing a significant drop in air quality that now falls within the 'Poor' category.
Air Quality Index Plummets
At 8:20 am, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded a reading of 273, while Ghaziabad and Noida reported AQIs of 246 and 228, respectively. Within Delhi, the most severely affected areas included Akshardham and Anand Vihar, which registered an AQI of 334, classified as 'Very Poor.' The AIIMS area recorded an AQI of 253, whereas India Gate experienced a slight improvement, with an AQI of 251, still categorized as 'Poor,' according to reports from news agency ANI.
#WATCH | Delhi: A layer of fog engulfs India Gate and surrounding areas as the AQI drops to 251, categorised as 'Poor'. pic.twitter.com/GRK11QlHMF— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2024
Emergency Measures Underway
In response to the deteriorating air quality, Delhi's Environment Minister Gopal Rai convened an emergency meeting with relevant officials on Friday. Rai acknowledged that the approaching winter is exacerbating pollution levels in the national capital. He emphasized the need for authorities to investigate local sources contributing to the decline in air quality.
"Winter is approaching, and air pollution levels are rising. Currently, 13 hotspots in Delhi have AQIs exceeding 300. These include Wazirpur, Mundka, Rohini, Jahangirpuri, Anand Vihar, Dwarka Sector-8, Bawana, Narela, Vivek Vihar, Okhla Phase 2, Punjabi Bagh, Ashok Vihar, and RK Puram, with Wazirpur experiencing the highest levels," Rai stated during a press conference.
Political Tensions Rise
Rai also criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its comments on the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) management of air pollution in Delhi. He contended that the opposition had no grounds for criticism, claiming that the BJP government is neglecting pollution issues in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and at the national level.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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