Delhi Turns Deadly: Air Turns Toxic we cancer-causing PM 2.5 at emergency level

The capital's Air Quality Index (AQI) is in the severe category and the concentration of cancer-causing pollutants has reached emergency levels. The PM 2.5 pollutant (which enters the lungs and causes chronic respiratory diseases) is almost 100 times higher than the safe limit set by the World Health Organisation. Long-term exposure to this microscopic pollutant can also lead to lung cancer.

Restrictions have been reimposed in the national capital in view of the possibility of air pollution getting worse in the coming days. The Centre's Panel on Air Quality (CAQM) said the air quality, which is already in deep red zone in many parts of Delhi-NCR, is expected to deteriorate further in the next few days. It attributed the poor air quality to dense fog, calm winds and low temperature. The air quality panel has now asked industries to switch to cleaner fuel and ban the use of coal in the region. However, other dirtier fuels such as biomass and metallurgical coke are allowed in the national capital.

Questions are being raised on the efficiency of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Air Quality Management Commission. Phase III of the Graded Response Action Plan was withdrawn following improvement in air pollution in Delhi-NCR. Phase III of the Graded Response Action Plan bans non-essential construction and demolition work. However, it is currently in force. The Centre's air quality panel, in its January 4 order, had relaxed the stringent restrictions, citing forecasts by the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology. Experts say that the ban on coal is a welcome step, but the government should focus on regional cleanliness of the national capital. For this, industries will need to be given benefits to switch to natural gas.