Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Nov 5: As New Delhi was wrapped in a thick layer of toxic haze with air quality continuing to remain in the “severe category,” the Centre on Sunday implemented stage-IV measures of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect.
The Indian national capital, along with Kolkata and Mumbai also figured among the 10 world’s most polluted cities on the day, according to data monitored by Swiss Group IQAir. The air quality in Delhi and its neighbouring cities remained in the ‘severe plus’ category for the fourth consecutive day.
The Graded Response Action Plan or GRAP are set of measures drafted by the Centre’s Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to tackle air pollution. The Stage IV of the GRAP is the highest level of pollution alert taken under the GRAP when the Air Quality Index (AQI) remains over 450 or in the ‘severe plus’ category.
As per the Swiss IQAir report, New Delhi again topped the real-time list with an AQI of 483 at 7.30 am on Sunday followed by Lahore at 371. Kolkata and Mumbai were also among the 5 worst-hit cities by air pollution with an AQI of 206 and 162 respectively. According to experts and doctors, the recommended AQI for any healthy person should be less than 50.
All the 10 most polluted cities were in Asia including three each in India and China, two in Pakistan and one each in Bangladesh and Kuwait. New Delhi was followed by Lahore, Kolkata, Dhaka, Karachi, Mumbai,
Shenyang (China), Hangzhou (China), Kuwait City (Kuwait) and Wuhan (China).
Officials say a seasonal combination of low temperatures, a lack of wind, and stubble burning in neighbouring states had caused a spike in air pollutants in New Delhi. Many of New Delhi’s 20 million residents complained of irritation in the eyes and itchy throats with the air turning a dense grey as the AQI hovered over 550 in some monitoring stations.
“In my last 24 hours duty, I saw babies coughing, children coming with distress and rapid breathing,” Ahmed Khan, a Delhi-based doctor, said on social media platform X.
The concentration of fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, was 523 mg per cubic meter, 104.6 times higher than the permissible World Health Organization guidelines. Long-term exposure to these particles, which are about 30 times thinner than human hair and can penetrate the bloodstream through the lungs, has been linked to chronic heart and respiratory conditions.
PM2.5 or Particulate Matter 2.5 are fine, inhalable particles with diameters generally 2.5 micrometres or smaller. The PM10 or Particulate Matter 10 have a diameter of 10 microns or smaller and are found in significant proportions. PM2.5 pollutants are so small that they can enter the bloodstream causing adverse health impacts.
The PM2.5 level was reported at 481 micrograms/cubic metres. While PM10 was the main pollutant in Delhi and its neighbouring cities. All air quality monitoring stations across Delhi reported a PM2.5 level of over 450 µg/m³.
The crisis plan activated in the national capital, which includes halting construction works, encouraging the use of public transport, and working from home when possible. India is hosting the Cricket World Cup and organisers have banned fireworks at matches in Mumbai and Delhi to avoid compounding hazardous air pollution levels. Bangladesh is scheduled to play Sri Lanka in Delhi on Monday but cancelled a scheduled Friday training session because of the haze, with little likelihood of the air clearing for their match.
Under the 8-point Stage IV measures, entry of trucks into Delhi has been banned except for those carrying essential commodities/ providing essential services and all LNG/ CNG/ electric trucks. Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) registered outside Delhi, other than Electrical Vehicles, CNG, BS-VI diesel, to enter Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities/ providing essential services. All construction and demolition activities have been banned in Delhi including public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines, etc.
The Delhi government will decide on allowing public, municipal and private offices to work on 50 per cent strength and the rest to work from home. Central Government may take appropriate decision on permitting work from home for employees in Central Government offices. The Delhi government may decide to discontinue physical classes for students from classes six to nine and even eleven.
“From head to toe, there’s no organ in the body that escapes the ill effects of air pollution. There is evidence to say that it causes obesity and asthma,” senior lung specialist at Medanta Hospital, Dr Arvind Kumar said.
According to the European Environment Agency (EEA) both short and long-term exposure to air pollution can lead to a wide range of diseases, including stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, trachea, bronchus and lung cancers, aggravated asthma and lower respiratory infections.