New Delhi (NVI): Just a day before Diwali, Delhi’s air quality was already “very poor” as it hit season’s worst on October 25 and was likely to remain that way on the day of Diwali on October 27 too.
The air quality index, which measures the concentration of poisonous particulate matter, touched a high 385 in Anand Vihar area on October 26. Most of the places in Delhi recorded the AQI in the “very poor” category, while the situation inched towards “severe” in some areas, according to Delhi Air Quality Index.
The data show that air pollution reaches alarming levels in north India during Diwali accentuated by burning of farm residue by farmers in the areas bordering the national capital.
Meanwhile the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has adopted Ludhiana, Barnala and Patiala districts in Punjab, and Rohtak, Sirsa and Fatehabad in Haryana to facilitate zero stubble burning.
Among a host of measures to curb pollution, the city government of New Delhi has decided to restrict the use of private cars between Nov. 4-15.
-sb
