Delhi Pollution: Citizens struggle to breathe as air quality continues to drop

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) dropped to 'Poor’ levels on Tuesday morning. According to the latest Air Quality Index (AQI) data, major pollutants PM 2.5 is at 214 (poor) and PM 10 at 255 (poor) in the Lodhi Road area. With a drop in wind speed, authorities predicted further fall in the air quality index of the national capital in the coming days.

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On Monday, the Supreme Court-appointed environment watchdog Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) initiated the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to curb toxic emissions. Under GRAP, a pollution emergency is declared when PM10 breaches 500 ug/m3. The environmental committee will focus on the basic measures to curb air pollution but will shift to emergency measures in the event of deteriorating air quality.

Under GRAP, several measures such as the frequent sprinkling of water on roads, halting construction and demolition activities, banning the use of diesel generators, banning the entry of trucks, banning brick kilns, hot mix plants and stone crushers, shutting down the Badarpur thermal power plant, among others will be implemented.

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GRAP, which was notified last year, will be implemented between October 15 and March 15. The measures are suggested to reduce — PM 2.5 and PM 10 — the major pollutants in Delhi NCR, which can have an adverse effect on public health. Currently, the AQI in Delhi-NCR is in the “unhealthy” to “poor category”, however, according to authorities, pollution levels may increase in the coming days.