According to the latest report of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the national Capital witnessed the “worst” spell of smog in the last 17 years.
A pollution watch body CSE has requested the Delhi Government to look into the matter and to issue alerts so that the children and the vulnerable stay indoors to avoid health problems. As per the CSE’s analysis report, the Post-Diwali peak of pollution is higher than the Diwali peak.
Anumita Roychowdhury, the Executive Director (research and advocacy), CSE said, “This demands emergency response to protect the vulnerable — those who are suffering from respiratory and heart diseases and children. The Government should aggressively inform all and advise them to stay indoors and avoid outdoor exercises. At the same time, it should roll out stringent winter pollution control for all sources along with emergency action.”
The database of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) said the levels of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) PM2.5 have been increased by 62.7 per cent on November 2 as compared to that on Diwali.
On November 2, the levels were 9.4 times the standard. “Delhi needs strong action to protect people from such deadly exposure. Immediately step up action and put out hard health evidences and heath alerts in the public domain to sensitise people about the harmful effects of smog and push action” said CSE official.
On Thursday, SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research), a unit of Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) said, “The average concentration of PM 10 was 566 µgm3 while PM 2.5 was 449 µgm3.”
“Health advisory needs to inform people to keep children and those suffering from heart and respiratory ailments and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) indoors and avoid outdoor exercises. Schools should be shut if necessary,” Roychowdhury said.