The air pollution has started to reach alarming levels in Delhi as the capital recorded its second straight day of 'very poor' air quality with AQI at 330. This marks a rise from Monday when the morning AQI was 324. The degrading air quality is concerning as pollution curbs including restrictions on vehicles, constructions already remain in place.
On Tuesday morning, eight areas in Delhi recorded a 'severe' pollution in the air. Jahangirpuri was the most polluted area in the capital for second day with an AQI of 451, followed by Rohini at 431, Punjabi Bagh at 424, Alipur 415, Anand Vihar at 411, DTU and Bawana at 409 and Narela at 408.
Mundka, Patparganj and Pusa remained on the verge of falling into 'severe' category. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) identified an air pollution of 0 to 50 as 'Good', 50 t0 100 as 'Satisfactory', 100 to 200 as 'Moderate', 200 to 300 as 'Poor', 300 to 400 as 'Very Poor', 400 to 500 As 'Severe'. Beyond 500, the CPCB identified the air pollution as hazardous.
Vehicles below BS-VI are barred from entry into the national capital while construction activities mostly remain suspended. The winter action plan that came into effect on November 1 has provisioned strict 'No PUCC, No Fuel' criteria. The offices are running at 50 per cent work from home model.
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The pollution rise comes in less than a week before Diwali, when bursting of firecrackers pushes the air quality index to severe category. The prior alarming levels have now raised concern about post-Diwali air in the capital.
Meanwhile, Delhi government has accused the Punjab government of facilitating stubble burning that has allegedly caused the air quality in national capital to worsen.
During a press conference, Sirsa said that Delhi witnessed 220 cleanest air days this year and October was cleanest in a decade. However, over 1,000 incidents of farm fires have been recorded in Punjab. Sirsa accused the Aam Aadmi Party of getting farmers to burn the farm residue while also implicating them in cases for it.
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Sirsa also raised questions on transfer of Reena Gupta from Delhi to Punjab as the Chairperson of the state's Polition Control Board. "Reena Gupta, who left Delhi in a ruined state, is now in Punjab. She was moved from Delhi to Punjab and appointed as the Chairperson of the Pollution Control Board there. This was done so that she could conceal the truth by fudging data. She is known to be a relative of Arvind Kejriwal. Iam also providing FIRs filed over incidents of stubble burning," he said.