Delhi Pollution: Air quality ‘poor’, EPCA likely to consider closure of industries on ‘severe’ days

The national capital on Sunday woke up to a 'poor' air quality. Both major pollutants PM 2.5 and PM 10 were at 260 (poor category) in Lodhi Road area. In the Anand Vihar area, the Air Quality Index (AQI) PM 2.5 was at 348 and PM 10 at 460, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). At the Sukhdev Vihar area, PM 2.5 was at 356 and PM 10 at 308. AQI at Punjabi Bagh Delhi was recorded poor, PM 2.5 was at 296 while PM 10 at 194.

Delhi: Both major pollutants PM 2.5 and PM 10 are at 260 in Lodhi Road area in 'Poor' category, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI) data. pic.twitter.com/F1hemt2OxQ

— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2018

The Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) has said that it is “seriously considering” a CPCB proposal to shut down industries in pollution affected areas on days air quality enters ‘severe’ level in that particular area.

ALSO READ | Delhi's air quality very poor

“Let us tell you, we are seriously considering a proposal from the CPCB to shut down industries in the area where the pollution reaches severe. We are, therefore, appealing to you to switch to cleaner fuel as it is going to be critical. Your systems are not working efficiently. We have monitored for levels of Sulphur, Nitrogen Oxide, and they are much higher than the limit,” said EPCA Chairperson Bhure Lal and member Sunita Nairain.

According to a study, published in the Lancet Planetary Health journal, Delhi recorded 12,322 deaths due to air pollution last year. National capital recorded the highest PM 2.5 exposure level followed by Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Haryana and Rajasthan. There were 6.7 lakh deaths due to outdoor particulate matter air pollution and 4.8 lakh deaths due to household air pollution in India last year, it said.

Delhi is reeling under the menace of air pollution for the past couple of years. The region faced a major air quality crisis last year when severe pollution level forced the shutdown of schools and colleges. In 2016, the government tried to explore the possibility of cloud seeding for artificial rain but the plan never worked out. 

AQI categories:

1. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’
2. AQI between 51 and 100 is ‘satisfactory’
3. AQI between 101 and 200 is ‘moderate’
4. AQI between 201 and 300 is ‘poor’
5. AQI between 301 and 400 is ‘very poor’