New Delhi: As protests across the city demanding the fundamental right to clean air continued, Delhi’s air quality index was recorded at 350 on Thursday. By 7:31 a.m. on Friday, Delhi’s air quality had deteriorated further, with the overall air quality index recorded at 494, reaching a dangerous level.
Delhi was enveloped in dense fog and a haze of air pollution, which blurred the weather and worsened the city’s air quality, causing residents to cough, struggle to breathe, and suffer from eye irritation. Visibility has dropped sharply in many areas. Severe air pollution has been recorded in several parts of the city.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board, among the worst-affected areas, the air quality index at IIT Delhi was recorded at 488. This was followed by ITO at 455, Anand Vihar at 419, Rohini at 413, and the Rajokri border area at 402; all of these fall under the 'severe' category.
In other areas, air quality is in the 'very poor' category. Air quality index readings have been recorded at 391 in R.K. Puram, 378 in Mandir Marg, 369 on the Dwarka Expressway, 363 in Uttam Nagar, and 341 on Lodhi Road.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board, the air quality index in areas around Dhaula Kuan has been recorded at 161, which falls under the 'moderate' category.
Meanwhile, as part of measures to reduce air pollution, the Delhi government is carrying out various efforts across the state, including spraying water using machines.
Noting that air pollution in Delhi has risen sharply after the Diwali celebrations, Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj has strongly criticized the BJP. He also questioned the reliability of the air quality index data released by the Central Pollution Control Board, alleging that it is a fraud being perpetrated on the 2 crore people living in Delhi.
Speaking to reporters on this matter, he accused the Central Pollution Control Board of manipulating Delhi’s air pollution data. He said that the actual pollution level is 49 percent higher than the official figures shown on the government website. Today, several newspapers have fully exposed the actions of the Delhi government and the Central Pollution Control Board.
Bharadwaj said that this fraud related to air pollution is not merely a game of numbers; it is an act of playing with the health of our children, the elderly, and the two crore people living in Delhi.
It is noteworthy that since the beginning of November, on most days the air quality in the capital has been very poor or severe.
