(ANSA) – NEW DELHI, NOV 20 – After the coldest night of the season, with the minimum temperature dropping to 11 degrees, New Delhi woke up for the third day in a row in a cloud of toxic smog. According to the India Meteorological Department, the drop in temperatures has combined with dense fog to reduce visibility and the institute expects the fog to persist throughout the day. For the pollution emergency, which since Sunday reached the highest record of the last 5 years, all the measures envisaged by the capital authorities for the most acute phases remain in force: all schools closed, entry ban on heavy vehicles, except for those that transport essential products, and of all diesel-powered vehicles, blocking of the activities of private and public construction sites, invitation to smart-working for employees of public and private offices. The government of the capital of India has announced the probable imposition of alternating license plate traffic in the next few days. The Supreme Court intervened in the emergency by requiring the municipality not to relax the anti-pollution regulations without authorization and explicitly accused the governments of irresponsibility towards the 20 million inhabitants, for having failed since November 2018, when for the first time the Delhi’s air quality reached “seriously harmful” levels for health, to implement long-term measures, but only to implement buffer measures in moments of maximum alert. While those who can afford the expense rush to purchase devices to purify the air inside homes and masks are now unobtainable both in shops and online, hospitals and clinics are besieged by thousands of people suffering from breathing difficulties, cough and sore throat, eye irritation and headache. Controversy rages in the media against the inaction and inability of the authorities to address the now well-known causes of smog; in particular, we highlight the unacceptable health risks for millions of citizens who work in the informal sectors and spend their days outdoors, exposed to poisons. (HANDLE).
© All rights reserved
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;
n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,’script’,
‘https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js’);
fbq(‘init’, ‘471476730149687’);
fbq(‘track’, ‘PageView’);
#Delhi #breathes #poison #day #toxic #smog #fog
–
Dr. Salve’s assessment regarding the causes of air pollution. The challenges we face at DEPA include lack of coordination between different governmental departments, insufficient funding for environmental programs, and resistance from industries and political entities when implementing stricter regulations. Moreover, public awareness and compliance with pollution control measures remain ongoing hurdles. It’s a complex issue that requires collaborative efforts from all stakeholders.
Interview with Guest 1: Dr. Meena Mahajan, Head of Delhi’s Environmental Protection Agency (DEPA) and Dr. Harish Salve, Respected Environmental Activist and Lawyer.
Website Editor: Good morning to both of you, and thank you for joining me today. Let’s start with Dr. Mahajan, can you please share with us the current situation of air pollution in Delhi? How severe is the issue, and what measures has DEPA taken to combat it?
Dr. Mahajan: Thank you for having us. The air quality in Delhi has been deteriorating for quite some time now, with the peak pollution levels being recorded this year. To curb the issue, we’ve been implementing various short-term measures like school closures, restrictions on construction and industrial activities, and banning diesel-powered vehicles. We have also increased the frequency of mechanized street cleaning and sprinkling water on roads to settle dust. However, these are just temporary solutions, and we need long-term planning and policy changes to tackle the root cause of this problem.
Website Editor: That’s concerning to hear. Dr. Salve, as an environmental activist, what do you think is the primary cause of air pollution in Delhi, and what should the government be doing about it?
Dr. Salve: Thank you. The primary cause of air pollution in Delhi is the unabated burning of crop stubble in neighboring states like Punjab and Haryana, coupled with the city’s rapidly growing population and reliance on private vehicles. The government should incentivize farmers to switch to non-burning methods of crop stubble management, promote public transportation and cycling, and invest in renewable energy sources to reduce the city’s dependence on fossil fuels. Additionally, pollution monitoring and penalties for non-compliance must be strengthened. It’s heartbreaking to see people suffering from respiratory issues due to such avoidable circumstances.
Website Editor: That’s a crucial point. Dr. Mahajan, do you agree with Dr. Salve’s assessment? What are some challenges DEPA faces when implementing these policies?
Dr. Mahajan: Yes, I agree with
