Amid rising air pollution in the National Capital, around 13 ‘hotspots’ including Narela, Bawana, Mundka, Wazirpur, Rohini, R K Puram, Okhla, Jahangirpuri, Anand Vihar, Punjabi Bagh, Mayapuri, and Dwarka Sector-8 have been identified as areas where the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed 300 on Friday.
According to the Delhi government, the major factor contributing to high levels of pollution is dust. The data available by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reveals that the average AQI of the city stood at 292 in the ‘poor’ category at 4 pm on Friday.
As per the AQICN, Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 219, Wazirpur and Jahangirpuri recorded 157, Rohini and R K Puram recorded 154, Narela and Punjabi Bagh recorded 152, Okhla recorded 124, Mundka recorded 114 and Dwarka Sector-8 recorded 109.
Regions adjoining the national Capital also reported AQI in ‘poor’ category with Noida recording an average AQI of 242, Greater Noida recording 264, Ghaziabad recording 258, Faridabad recording 242 and Gurugram recording 242 according to the CPCB at 4 pm. At 8 pm, Faridabad’ Sector 11 recorded an AQI of 359, Greater Noida Knowledge Park-V recorded 491, Ghaziabad’s Vasundhra area recorded 215 and Gurugram’s Sector 51 recorded 251.
Environment Minister Gopal Rai, who met relevant departments to discuss controlling air pollution in hotspot areas, said the government has formed a coordination committee each to identify and mitigate local sources of pollution at 13 locations stifled with “very poor” air.
To reduce dust pollution, 80 mobile anti-smog guns have been deployed, and MCD Deputy Commissioners have been directed to conduct regular visits and take necessary measures. To tackle the problem, coordination committees have been established for each hotspot to manage tasks related to the Justice Department in those areas.
A total of 10 mobile anti-smog guns will be deployed in Wazirpur, eight in Mundka, seven in Rohini, four in Jahangirpuri, Dwarka Sector 8, Punjabi Bagh, and Ashok Vihar, 10 in Anand Vihar, five in Bawana, Narela, Vivek Vihar, and Okhla, and six in RK Puram.
Delhiites on Friday woke up to a light haze covering the skies of the national Capital which is only expected to grow worse in the coming days as the AQI further deteriorates. According to the AQICN at 7 pm, the fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) which leads to haze was alarmingly high in different areas of Delhi including 217 µg/m3 in Jahangirpuri, 205 µg/m3 in R.K.Puram, 198 µg/m3 at Anand Vihar, 183 µg/m3 in Dwarka, 177 µg/m3 in Wazirpur, 176 µg/m3 in Rohini, 175 µg/m3 at Bawana, 172 µg/m3 in Mundka, and 158 µg/m3 in Patparganj among other parts of the city. The haze which will grow more prominent in the coming days will not only lead to severe implications on people’s health, it will also cause slower movement of vehicles due to reduced visibility on the road and delay or cancellation of flights.
