Residents complain as New Delhi chokes in hazardous smog

Record ID: 80033

  • Title: Residents complain as New Delhi chokes in hazardous smog
  • Date: 7th November 2016
  • Summary: (MUTE) NEW DELHI, INDIA (NOVEMBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) FRONT PAGES OF INDIAN NEWSPAPERS ON DISPLAY HEADLINE IN NATIONAL DAILY, THE INDIAN EXPRESS, READING (English) 'GOVT MASK ON DELHI' PAN OF NEWSPAPERS DOMINATED BY HEADLINES ABOUT SMOG
  • Embargoed: 22nd November 2016 09:01
  • Keywords: India smog pollution smoke dust air haze New Delhi Moga burn
  • Location: MOGA/NEW DELHI, INDIA
  • City: MOGA/NEW DELHI, INDIA
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Pollution,Environment
  • Reuters ID: LVA00257G2QTH
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
    Residents of New Delhi struggled to cope with dangerous levels of air pollution on Monday (October 7) even as the government imposed "emergency" measures.
    A combination of smoke from burning farm residue in surrounding states, fireworks for the Hindu festival of Diwali, dust from construction works and vehicle emissions has pushed up levels of the most dangerous particles, known as PM 2.5, to more than 15 times the safe limit.
    The Delhi government on Sunday (November 6) put all construction projects on hold, shut down schools and advised residents of the Indian capital to stay indoors as part of an "emergency" plan to deal with dangerous levels of air pollution.
    "We are taking strict action. We have closed construction for five days, schools have been closed. Every action is being taken very seriously and will be carried forward," Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain.
    New Delhi ranks among the world's most polluted cities. In the past week, a thick layer of smog has enveloped the city, with people complaining of irritated eyes, throats and lungs.
    "After Diwali there was a lot of smog in Delhi. Kejriwal government and other governments are indulging in a blame game over pollution saying that the polluted air is coming from Haryana and Punjab. The government is very late in taking action in this matter," said resident, Arun Sharma.
    "Due to this thick smog it has become cold and is causing difficulty in breathing. We are not able to work properly," added another resident, Rohan Kumar.
    Hundreds of people, including children, on Sunday staged a protest in New Delhi over the worsening air quality, demanding immediate and effective steps from authorities.
    New Delhi's chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, who has called the city a "gas chamber", said all construction and demolition would remain on hold for five days and schools would be shut for three days.
    He also banned the use of all diesel-powered electricity generators for the next 10 days. The local administration will start vacuum cleaning roads and sprinkling them with water, Kejriwal said.
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