Air quality index reaches ‘poor’ category in New Delhi, says environment minister

Record ID: 1849173

  • Title: Air quality index reaches ‘poor’ category in New Delhi, says environment minister
  • Date: 18th October 2024
  • Summary: NEW DELHI, INDIA (OCTOBER 18, 2024) (ANI - No use India) VARIOUS OF INDIA GATE WAR MEMORIAL PARTIALLY VISIBLE AMID HAZE/LOCALS WALKING LOCALS JOGGING ON ROAD AMID HAZE TRAFFIC MOVING AMID HAZE (SOUNDBITE) (HINDI) DELHI ENVIRONMENT MINISTER, GOPAL RAI, SAYING: "The air pollution level has reached the 'poor' category in New Delhi. However, there are 13 hotspots in Delhi where the pollution is crossing the 'poor' level as well. So, 13 coordination committees have been set up to run special governmental schemes and look after the hotspots. The local sources of pollution have also been identified." TRAFFIC MOVING AMID HAZE HINDU TEMPLE PARTIALLY VISIBLE AMID HAZE VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC MOVING AMID HAZE GHAZIABAD, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (OCTOBER 18, 2024) (ANI - No use India) (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRINCIPAL PROGRAM MANAGER OF AIR POLLUTION CONTROL AT NEW DELHI CENTRE FOR SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT, VIVEK CHATTOPADHYAYA, SAYING: "The major factor is sudden change in the weather conditions which is not allowing the pollutants to disperse, and emissions are increasing. Certain new emissions take place during this period, for example, biomass burning, garbage burning, which leads to more accumulation of the pollution." KAITHAL, HARYANA, INDIA (RECENT - OCTOBER 15, 2024) (ANI - No use India) (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF SMOKE RISING FROM BURNING CROP RESIDUE
  • Embargoed: 1st November 2024 12:36
  • Keywords: Gopal Rai Haryana India New Delhi Punjab air pollution air quality breathing capital clean climate change conservation environment farmers government policy index locals lung diseases nature politics poor smog smoke stubble burning winter
  • Location: NEW DELHI/KAITHAL, HARYANA/GHAZIABAD, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA
  • City: NEW DELHI/KAITHAL, HARYANA/GHAZIABAD, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Pollution,Environment
  • Reuters ID: LVA001KWS1MJ3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:With the onset of winter, the level of air pollution has reached the 'poor' category in New Delhi, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Friday (October 18).
    There are 13 hotspots in the Indian capital where the Air Quality Index (AQI) has crossed 300 and special committees have been set up to identify the sources of localised pollution across the city, he added.
    New Delhi was rated the world's most polluted capital last year by Swiss group IQAir.
    An environmentalist working at New Delhi's Centre for Science and Environment, said industries must reduce combustion, and implement better waste management facilities to prevent contributing to a toxic smog that engulfs Delhi, frequently during the winters.
    The toxic air quality can also be attributed to crop residue burning by farmers in the northern states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
    Federal and state authorities have encouraged farmers to stop burning crop residue and penalised those who do but have not been able to fully curb the practice due to the large area involved and the hostility of farmers in some places.
    Swiss group, IQAir, showed Delhi's air quality index to be 158 on Friday (October 18), putting the pollution level in the 'unhealthy' category.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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