Delhi: EDMC sprinkles water on roads to reduce dust and pollution

The East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) with an aim to curb Air pollution and improve the Air Quality began sprinkling water on roads in Laxmi Nagar. Local authorities were seen running with machines around Laxmi Nagar. Following Diwali, the Air Quality in Delhi worsened and Lodhi road recorded an AQI of 306 (Very poor). 

Air Quality worsens in Delhi and Gurugram 

Major pollutants PM 2.5 and PM 10 were at 257 and 249 respectively were detected in Mathura road. The overall air quality index stood at 306 and 356 in Delhi and Noida. In Gurugram, the air quality index fell to 279 (poor) after Diwali celebrations. The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) forecasted a very poor AQI. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.  

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Stubble burning increased 

The Stubble Burning in Punjab and Haryana make Delhi's situation worse. According to Punjab Remote Sensing Centre(PRSC) straw burning has increased this year. Earlier, Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said the crop burning has increased and is one of the reasons for Air Pollution. On October 12, he had said smoke from crop residue burning in neighbouring states has started reaching Delhi and the air quality has started deteriorating. "It has been widely reported that the smoke coming to Delhi is due to the burning of stubble in Karnal, Haryana," he had said.  The Government had also said, that real-time data to determine the contribution of local and non-local sources, including dust and stubble burning, to air pollution in the national capital region will be available from April next year. 

Owing to the continuous Air Pollution after Diwali, the Supreme Court banned the sale of standard firecrackers and allowed only 'green firecrackers' to be sold. However, the alleged poor implementation of the scheme, people still burn firecrackers to celebrate Diwali.

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(With ANI inputs)