Los Angeles, US (EFE).- New Delhi authorities activated the first level of the emergency anti-pollution plan on Tuesday due to the rapid deterioration of air quality and the fear of repeating the severe smog episodes that suffocate the capital every year, official sources reported.
The Air Quality Index reached 211 points, the «poor» category, according to the official report of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), warning that the situation could persist in the coming days.
The Commission ordered the immediate request of level one of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-1) throughout the National Capital Region, which includes New Delhi and the districts of the neighboring states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
The measures include construction restrictions, greater control over transport, and the obligation to water streets and construction sites to reduce suspended dust. It also prohibits open-air waste burning and strengthens emissions inspections in vehicles and industries.
The CAQM urged local authorities to increase surveillance of garbage burning, a common practice in outlying and industrial areas, that significantly contributes to air pollution.
Additionally, it recommended that citizens reduce their use of private cars, avoid outdoor activities during peak pollution hours, and report instances of garbage burning or other environmental infractions.
The objective is to prevent pollution from escalating to «very poor» or «severe» levels, common in the months leading up to winter, when weak winds and low temperatures trap pollutants over the city.
In 2024, New Delhi spent several weeks under a dense cloud of toxic air, which made it the most polluted city on the planet.
As of November 2024, the pollution index exceeded 500 points, forcing the temporary closure of schools, construction sites, and factories.
The combination of stubble burning in northern agricultural states, smoke from Diwali festival fireworks, and urban emissions caused PM2.5 fine particle levels to rise to dangerous health levels.
In 2024, the Indian Supreme Court warned that pollution in northern India had become a «chronic health emergency» and called for coordinated action among state governments to address the annual winter crisis. EFE
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