India's pollution board says prepare for emergency steps as Delhi's smog worsens -
Levin - 14-11-2021
November 12, 2021
9:35 PM +08
Last Updated 2 days ago
By Neha Arora and Mayank Bhardwaj
NEW DELHI, Nov 12 (Reuters) - India's federal pollution control board on Friday ordered states and local bodies to be in "complete readiness" for emergency measures to tackle New Delhi's worsening smog conditions due to a drop in temperature and wind speeds.
A thick haze of toxic smog hung over the Indian capital, exacerbated by a spike in the burning of crop waste in surrounding farmlands.
It reduced visibility and the Air Quality Index (AQI) hit 470 on a scale of 500, according to the federal pollution control board. This level of pollution means the air will affect healthy people and seriously impact those with existing diseases.
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The concentration of poisonous PM2.5 particulate matter averaged 329 micrograms per cubic meter of air. The government prescribes a "safe" PM2.5 reading at 60 micrograms per cubic meter of air over a period of 24 hours.
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Delhi, often ranked the world's most polluted capital, faces extremely bad air in winter due to the crop stubble burning, emissions from transport, coal-fired plants outside the city and other industrial emissions, open garbage burning and dust.
https://www.reuters.com/world/india/thick-toxic-smog-over-indian-capital-temperatures-wind-speed-drop-2021-11-12/