Schools in Delhi have been asked to run hybrid classes for primary students and non-essential construction activity has been banned as air quality worsens in the Indian capital.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, authorities enforced stricter anti-pollution measures which include limiting movement of goods carriers in the capital and its suburbs. <\/p>\n
Delhi’s air quality has deteriorated to “severe” levels according to authorities, which can affect healthy people and seriously impact those with existing diseases. <\/p>\n
On Wednesday, the capital’s PM2.5 levels in the air reached 438, according to the Central Pollution Control Board – dangerously high concentrations of fine particles that can clog the lungs.<\/p>\n
This is nearly 30 times higher than the World Health Organisation’s safe limit and about eight times higher than India’s national average. The WHO considers a 24-hour average of no more than 15 to be safe.<\/p>\n
Doctors have advised people – especially children and the elderly – to avoid going outdoors<\/a> unless absolutely necessary and to wear protective masks if they do.<\/p>\n Toxic air quality is a recurring problem in Delhi and across parts of northern India during the winter. <\/p>\n There isn’t a single cause behind the problem, but a mix of factors like low wind speeds, industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, dropping temperatures and the seasonal burning of crop stubble in neighbouring states.<\/p>\n The Delhi government enforces a set of special measures known as the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to contain pollution levels. <\/p>\n Stage three of these measures were implemented on Tuesday which include a ban on mining activity, stone crushing and prohibiting movement of vehicles carrying dust-generating materials among other things. <\/p>\n The worsening air quality led to a people’s protest in the capital last weekend, and has also sparked a political row. <\/p>\n On Tuesday, Saurabh Bhardwaj, a leader of of the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the Delhi government of “manipulating” air quality data and failing to protect public health.<\/p>\n He said that the city’s air quality remains “alarming” despite the alleged manipulation of numbers and urged the government to declare a public health emergency.<\/p>\n The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Delhi government, however, has denied the allegations.<\/p>\n “Our government is working with full seriousness and promptness towards pollution control,” Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said.<\/p>\n Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa told Hindustan Times<\/a> that air quality data is publicly available and that water was sprinkled near air quality monitors only to reduce dust, not to manipulate readings.<\/p>\n Follow BBC News India on Instagram<\/a>, YouTube,<\/a> X<\/a> and Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n