Public health emergency in Delhi as air quality shows no sign of improvement

New Delhi: Authorities declared a public health emergency on Friday and ordered Delhi schools to announce a four-day holiday, as severe pollution levels continued to choke the National Capital Region (NCR) for the fifth day.

“The air quality has further deteriorated as of last night and is now at severe+ level. We have to take this as a public health emergency as air pollution is now hazardous and will have adverse health impact on all, particularly on children,” said Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) chairman Bhure Lal, in a letter to chief secretaries of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The toxic smog has been taking a heavy toll on residents of the National Capital Region (NCR) since Diwali, with concentrations of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 reaching extremely hazardous levels. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) of the ministry of earth sciences, PM2.5 concentration touched its highest of 411 on Thursday with serious potential implications for public health. Because of its small size, these particles can easily enter the blood stream.

The situation was similarly dire on Friday, when the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi reached 484 (severe), compelling the Supreme Court-mandated EPCA to take emergency measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

“This is a grave situation,” said Lal, as the AQI worsened to 550 (severe+) at most of the 34 monitoring stations across NCR. The situation in Ghaziabad, Noida and Greater Noida was far worse, as index spiked to “dangerous” levels of 688. That’s when there is a serious risk of respiratory effects even on the general public.

People have been advised to ensure they minimize personal exposure as far as possible and avoid outdoor exercise and sports.

Soon after directions were issued, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal ordered all schools to be closed till 5 November. “Delhi has turned into a gas chamber because of the smoke from crop burning in neighbouring cities,” he tweeted.

The share of biomass plume in Delhi’s pollution has increased 46%, against the estimated 25% rise, with stubble fire counts in Haryana and Punjab recording an increase. The count recorded its peak this year at 3,178 on Thursday.

The EPCA issued orders to stop all building work involving excavation and civil construction (excluding internal finishing/work where no construction material is used) in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida, Ghaziabad and Greater Noida till Monday. Hot mix plants and stone crushers will also remain closed till then.

All brick kilns in NCR will be shut till 5 November, said the panel’s chairman in his letter to chief secretaries. The industrial area of Mundka will also remain closed so that all debris comprising plastic, rubber and other waste can be removed by North Delhi Municipal Corporation.

The emergency comes just before the Delhi government implements the odd-even car rationing scheme from 4-15 November to bring down vehicular pollution.