New Delhi:
Delhiites woke up to another foggy morning on Friday with severe pollution levels as residents gasp for clean air. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 484 in the morning. The AQI was recorded in the 'very poor’ range on Thursday. As many as 10 trains bound for Delhi were delayed because of the fog. All departures from the Delhi Airport were on hold from 5:30 am to 7 am due to the fog. Most of the arrivals were also affected because of the bad weather. One international flight was also diverted, reported ANI. At 8 am, the temperature in the national capital was 7° Celsius.
The air quality in the national capital deteriorated further reduced wind speed that prevented the dispersion of pollutants even as the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) slapped a Rs 1-crore fine each on three civic bodies of Delhi over open burning, dumping of waste, an illegal running of plastic industries in non-conforming residential areas.
Delhi: Visuals of dense fog from Delhi Cantonment area.
Delhi: Visuals of dense fog from Delhi Cantonment area. pic.twitter.com/QW2q9ioFpB
— ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2019
In three separate notices to the East Delhi Municipal Corporation, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation and the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, the CPCB said it was observed that open dumping of garbage contributes over 13 per cent and open garbage burning over 11 per cent in the air pollution incidents in the Delhi-NCR region.
Air samples taken from Delhi and Gurugram in the last two months showed the presence of alarming levels of toxic heavy metals, according to a report titled 'Death in Every Breath' released by NGO Lung Care Foundation. It analysed results of seven samples taken from New Delhi and Gurugram.
Delhi: Visuals of thick fog from Ring Road.
Delhi: Visuals of thick fog from Ring Road. pic.twitter.com/WuDPgZaPwT
— ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2019
On Thursday, as many as 31 areas recorded 'severe' air quality and two 'very poor' air quality, the CPCB said. The National Capital Region (NCR) of Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad also recorded 'severe' air quality while Gurugram recorded 'very poor' air quality, it said.
The air quality was 'severe' till Sunday but increased wind speed of 20 km an hour significantly improved it to the poor category on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the air quality again dipped as the wind speed dropped and was recorded in the very poor category.
