Addressed to: Delhi Pollution Control Committee & Delhi Government
A breath of fresh air, quite literally for Delhiites, as the capital city recorded its cleanest February in 9 years! Light showers, along with strong surface winds, were responsible for a relatively clean month [1]. The average AQI (Air Quality Index) in Delhi was recorded at 220 for the month of February, 2024.
While a 220 AQI might seem good in comparison, it is NOT clean air! To make matters worse, Delhi’s air quality woes may soon make a comeback…If you reside in Delhi, you would’ve seen the drastic turn the air quality takes September onwards; and the drop in temperature in the winter season makes this worse. On some days, the AQI crosses 500, which is significantly higher than the permissible levels as recommended by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and World Health Organisation (WHO).
Numerous factors are to blame for this. Vehicular emissions tops the list of highest contributors of toxic air. Additionally, open burning (which includes burning of Municipal Solid Waste, biomass, and wood among other things) also contributes a fair share to the city’s polluted air.
Incidences of heart attacks, chronic lung issues and respiratory disorders are on the rise. This is not the future we wish to leave behind for our children. We need to come together as part of a larger movement to hold authorities accountable and demand concrete solutions to Delhi’s air pollution problem. Stop-gap measures are not permanent solutions. It’s time to act now.
We’re urging the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and the Govt. of NCT of Delhi to consider the following demands:
Come up with a more precautionary and preventive approach in place that is implemented all year long, in addition to the GRAP that comes into force when the AQI deteriorates
Government issue widespread health advisory to citizens on high AQI days
Immediate steps must be undertaken to ensure there is equitable access to clean air!
Sources
[1] Delhi logs cleanest February in 9 years
You can make a contribution of your choice to support our movement demanding access to clean air in Delhi! If you wish to support our work, click here.
Addressed to: Delhi Pollution Control Committee & Delhi Government
A breath of fresh air, quite literally for Delhiites, as the capital city recorded its cleanest February in 9 years! Light showers, along with strong surface winds, were responsible for a relatively clean month [1]. The average AQI (Air Quality Index) in Delhi was recorded at 220 for the month of February, 2024.
While a 220 AQI might seem good in comparison, it is NOT clean air! To make matters worse, Delhi’s air quality woes may soon make a comeback…If you reside in Delhi, you would’ve seen the drastic turn the air quality takes September onwards; and the drop in temperature in the winter season makes this worse. On some days, the AQI crosses 500, which is significantly higher than the permissible levels as recommended by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and World Health Organisation (WHO).
Numerous factors are to blame for this. Vehicular emissions tops the list of highest contributors of toxic air. Additionally, open burning (which includes burning of Municipal Solid Waste, biomass, and wood among other things) also contributes a fair share to the city’s polluted air.
Incidences of heart attacks, chronic lung issues and respiratory disorders are on the rise. This is not the future we wish to leave behind for our children. We need to come together as part of a larger movement to hold authorities accountable and demand concrete solutions to Delhi’s air pollution problem. Stop-gap measures are not permanent solutions. It’s time to act now.
We’re urging the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and the Govt. of NCT of Delhi to consider the following demands:
Come up with a more precautionary and preventive approach in place that is implemented all year long, in addition to the GRAP that comes into force when the AQI deteriorates
Government issue widespread health advisory to citizens on high AQI days
Immediate steps must be undertaken to ensure there is equitable access to clean air!
Sources
[1] Delhi logs cleanest February in 9 years
You can make a contribution of your choice to support our movement demanding access to clean air in Delhi! If you wish to support our work, click here.