New Delhi: The air quality in Delhi, including Noida, Gurugram, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad, has been continuously deteriorating since Diwali. A thick layer of toxic smog has engulfed the entire area causing a threat to the health of people. People in these areas have been complaining of several health problems including headaches, difficulty in breathing, burning sensation in the eyes, nausea, throat pain and cough. The air in Delhi and NCR is continuously in ‘severe’ category with most parts having an AQI of more than 400.
Noting the high level of air pollution in the region, the Supreme Court has taken cognisance of the issue. The court on Monday asked the Delhi government and Delhi Police Commissioner about the steps they had taken to implement firecracker ban.
AQI in Delhi and NCR
The areas in Delhi with high AQI at Tuesday morning include, Anand Vihar – 457, Ashok Vihar – 417, Dwarka-Sector 8 – 405, Jahangirpuri – 440, New Moti Bagh – 415, Punjabi Bagh – 403, Vivek Vihar – 422, Rohini – 397, Najafgarh – 398, Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium – 383, IGI Airport (T3) – 388, Chandni Chowk – 317. The average AQI in Noida remained above 300 at 308. The average AQI in Ghaziabad remaind at 319, Loni at 398 and Vasundhara at 351 while the average AQI in Gurugram remained at 316.
The AQI between 0 and 51 is considered ‘good’, between 51 and 100 as ‘satisfactory’, between 101 and 200 as ‘moderate’, between 201 and 300 as ‘poor’, between 301 and 400 as ‘very poor’ and between 401 and 500 as ‘severe’. Thus most part of Delhi having an AQI more than 300 and 400 are still in ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ category.
Froth in Yamuna
Apart from air quality the effect of pollution is clearly visible in Yamuna water in the form of thick layer of froth. As the Chhat Puja starts the concerns regarding the condition of Yamuna river have increased. The administration has been trying to curb the formation of froth by spraying anti-foaming chemicals into the water of Yamuna.
