Air pollution in India’s New Delhi has dropped to the “very poor” category after a few days of clear skies, as lower temperatures and calmer winds trapped pollutants.
Every winter, pollution in New Delhi cause illnesses such as asthma and other respiratory problems as the heavy air does not let vehicular emissions, construction dust and farm-fire residues disperse easily.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board, the air quality in the city that has 20 million people was “very poor” overall and sank to “severe” in some areas. The air quality index hit 457 in the Anand Vihar locality – nine times the “good” level.
Read also: Australia opens up first zone for offshore wind farms
The government’s System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research blamed the foul air on a drop in temperatures and reduced wind speeds.
For the past few days, Delhi’s temperature has been hovering around a low of 6 degrees Celsius (42.8 Fahrenheit), which is lower than the normal minimum of 8 degrees Celsius for this time of year.
Delhi’s pollution problems have only been partly helped by measures such as occasional suspension of construction activities, sprinkling water on roads, and enforcing restrictions on diesel vehicles.
Pollution from the burning of crop residues in the neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, however, has come down this year.
Story was adapted from Reuters.
