Delhi kickstarts New Year with 'severe' air quality

NEW DELHI: The first day of New Year was not very happy for Delhiites as air pollution levels showed a sharp rise.

The Air Quality Index of the Capital stayed above 400 which is considered as 'severe'. The levels of lethal particulate matter hovered around the danger mark.

If it rises further and stay there for another four days, emergency pollution control measures like odd-even road rationing scheme and ban on construction activities will have to be brought back.

The pollution graph maintained by the Central Air Quality Monitoring Room of the CPCB was indicative of the rapid fall in air quality.

The high levels of moisture manifested itself in the form of fog, which in turn trapped particulates.

The levels will come down if the fog precipitates. The levels of PM2.5 and PM10 were 297 and 499.8 microgram per cubic metre (µg/m³) at 7 PM, within touching distance of the emergency levels.

"The air quality is likely to further deteriorate in the coming days and the government should implement the GRAP to control the situation without any delay," said an official of Central Pollution Control Board.

The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) formulated by the Supreme Court-appointed watchdog Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA), will come into play if this condition continues for more than 48 hours.

Delhi currently has three plans to control pollution and while one is being followed, there is no clarity on what is to be done with the other two -- one by the National Green Tribunal and the other by the Prime Minister's pollution task force.

The spike in pollution comes weeks after the initial surge in November that was termed a "public health crisis" by doctors.

Doctors have said that if this condition continues then another "health emergency" situation is likely to occur.