New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday expressed concern over the alarming air quality in Delhi, questioning if the city should remain the national capital with the worsening level of air pollution surpassing 60 times the daily limit set by the World Health Organization.
Delhi and its nearby continued to choke under the thick layer of smog for the past few days with the air quality index (AQI) declining to the “severe-plus” category, even surging past the hazardous figure of 500. The toxic air has prompted authorities to close schools and move to online bodies banning construction activities and enforcing other strict measures.
“Delhi is officially the most polluted city in the world, 4x hazardous levels and nearly five times as bad as the second most polluted city, Dhaka. It is unconscionable that our government has been witnessing this nightmare for years and does nothing about it,” Mr Tharoor posted on X.
Delhi is officially the most polluted city in the world, 4x Hazardous levels and nearly five times as bad as the second most polluted city, Dhaka. It is unconscionable that our government has been witnessing this nightmare for years and does nothing about it. I have run an Air… pic.twitter.com/sLZhfeo722
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 18, 2024
“This city is essentially uninhabitable from November to January inclusive and barely livable the rest of the year. Should it even remain the nation’s capital?” he added.
Delhi and its surrounding regions, home to approximately 7 crore people, consistently rank among the world’s most polluted areas during winter. The cold air traps dust, emissions, and smoke from illegal stubble burning by farmers in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana, who clear their fields for ploughing.
Delhi AQI today
Thick grey haze choked Delhi for the third straight day on Tuesday, with the pollution levels remaining alarmingly high at 488 in the ‘severe plus’ category.
Calm winds and dropping temperatures made the dispersion of pollutants difficult. Cold air traps dust and smoke from stubble burning in neighbouring areas of Delhi.
Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 488 at 9 am, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
Out of the 32 monitoring stations in the capital, 31 recorded AQI levels exceeding 480. Two stations, Alipur and Sonia Vihar, maxed out at 500.
