Delhi's environment minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, issued a stark warning on Friday about a significant deterioration in the national capital's air quality. He attributed the impending crisis to an approaching Western Disturbance and a high probability of dense fog formation.
Minister's Warning and Public Appeal
Manjinder Singh Sirsa stated that the city's weather is set to worsen as the effect of the Western Disturbance will be felt after Saturday. He cited forecasts from the Meteorological Department indicating a strong likelihood of dense fog enveloping the region.
"Based on data from previous years, Delhi's weather is likely to worsen," Sirsa added. He made a fervent appeal to Delhi's residents, emphasizing that even though the stringent GRAP-4 measures have been lifted, collective and sustained efforts from everyone are crucial to mitigate the harmful effects of the polluted air.
Current Air Quality and Visibility Crisis
Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) painted a grim picture on Friday morning. The city's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at around 8 am was recorded at 305, firmly placing Delhi in the 'very poor' category.
Visibility was severely impacted in several areas. A dense blanket of smog shrouded ITO, where the AQI registered at 330. Thick smog was also reported in parts of Akshardham and around the AIIMS campus on Friday morning.
Widespread 'Very Poor' Air Across Delhi
CPCB monitors revealed that poor air quality was not an isolated issue. Several key localities reported dangerously high pollution levels, all remaining in the 'very poor' bracket:
- Anand Vihar: AQI 390
- Bawana: AQI 379
- Narela: AQI 356
- R.K Puram: AQI 320
- Sirifort: AQI 317
Government's Counter-Pollution Measures
In a related development, the Delhi Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, recently approved significant measures to bolster the capital's fight against pollution. A key decision involved sanctioning an allocation of Rs 100 crore for the rejuvenation of water bodies under the Delhi government's jurisdiction. Out of approximately 1,000 water bodies in the city, 160 are managed by the state government.
This funding is part of a broader strategy to enhance environmental governance and tackle the perennial air quality crisis that plagues the national capital, especially during the winter months.
