Environment

Delhi pollution: Schools closed till Sunday, Arvind Kejriwal writes to CMs of Punjab, Haryana

Delhi woke up on Wednesday but could neither breathe nor see 10 metres ahead, due to dense smog. After Tuesday’s harmful pollution levels, the air quality of the city was measured as ‘hazardous’ for the second day. The pollutants in the air crossed the permissible standards by multiple times.

As of 8 am on Wednesday, all stations run by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported the air quality not suitable to breathe for long hours.

The RK Puram station reported one of the worst air quality in Delhi with air quality index (AQI) reading 657, according to aqicn.org which tracks the data released by CPCB and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).

PM2.5 and PM10 were primary pollutants in the air. According to DPCC, the Mother Dairy plant in Patparganj reported the concentration of PM10 at 1271 microgram per cubic metre against the permissible limit of 100 micrograms per cubic metre. Similarly, the PM2.5 level was also nearly 12 times the permissible limit at 709 micrograms per cubic metre. The Anand Vihar station recorded PM2.5 at 835 micrograms per cubic metre, 14 times the permissible limit.

Kejriwal said on Wednesday that he wished to meet his Haryana and Punjab counterparts to find a solution to pollution in the National Capital Region.

Kejriwal tweeted: “Am writing letters to CMs of Punjab (Amarinder Singh) and Haryana (Manohar Lal Khattar) requesting them for a meeting to find solutions to crop burning.”

The National Green Tribunal has taken the governments of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana to task, seeking to know why steps to prevent steps were not taken despite knowing well in advance that such a situation was likely to arise.

The Indian Medical Association said New Delhi was in the midst of a “public health emergency” and appealed to the city government to halt sports and other outdoor activities in schools. The association also said the Delhi Half Marathon, scheduled for November 19, was likely to leave those participating especially badly hit because the air quality is worst during the early part of the day, when the run takes place.

All primary schools in Delhi will remain closed tomorrow, if needed will extend order till day after, says Manish Sisodia.

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