2023-11-03 09:02:23
For several days, fine particle air pollution has affected the Indian capital. The cause is emissions from road transport and slash-and-burn agricultural activity carried out in winter.
New Delhi, one of the largest urban areas on the planet, is consistently ranked among the most polluted cities in the world. For several days, the level of pollution in the Indian capital has increased considerably: it is now 35 times higher than the maximum level set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
This problem peaks in early winter, around the Hindu festival of Diwali, which coincides with the weeks when tens of thousands of farmers in northern India burn paddy stubble.
The practice is one of the main causes of the pollution that chokes Delhi every year and persists despite efforts by authorities to persuade farmers to use other land clearing methods and threats of punitive measures.
A toxic fog
The toxic fog, fueled by agricultural burning, industrial emissions and those from road transport, is stagnating in the megacity of 30 million inhabitants.
“When a bus starts in front of you, it’s like you’re swallowing poison. At this time of year, pollution is hell. To avoid getting sick, I eat more vegetables, it strengthens the body,” says Raj Kumar, a scooter driver, with Radio France International (RFI).
Other residents, more fortunate, have the means to protect themselves more against the increase in pollution, indicates RFI, like Vikrant: “During pollution peaks, I wear a mask, put an air purifier in my home , and I only travel in a closed vehicle. Or I stay at home.”
On October 24, the level of particulate pollutants was 306 AQI (Air Quality Index) in Delhi, according to data provided by the Indian government to the BBC. This Friday, it is hovering around 480 AQI in certain monitoring points in the city, the Swiss air quality monitoring company, IQAir, informs the British agency Archyde.com.
“Good air quality ranges from 0 to 50, while readings above 300 are considered hazardous,” IQAir says.
This thick toxic cloud present in Delhi can damage the lungs and be the cause of many respiratory illnesses.
Last month, the city of Mumbai, India’s financial capital, also experienced a drastic decline in air quality, surpassing that of Delhi several times, reports British radio BBC.
Schools closed
This Friday, November 3, schools closed in the Indian capital due to the dangerous level of air pollution, materialized by a yellowish and toxic fog, the authorities announced.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced late Thursday evening that all primary schools would be closed in the capital for at least two days.
“In light of rising pollution levels, all public and private primary schools in Delhi will remain closed for the next two days,” Arvind Kejriwal announced on X (ex-Twitter).
The authorities regularly announce different plans to reduce pollution, in particular by suspending construction work, but without much result.
A study by The Lancet, a British medical journal, published in 2020, attributed 1.67 million deaths, a year earlier, to air pollution in India, including nearly 17,500 in the capital.
India relies heavily on coal for its energy production. The country has seen its per capita emissions increase by 29% over the past seven years and is reluctant to implement policies to phase out polluting fossil fuels.
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