Delhi’s Air Quality Remains ‘Very Poor’ at AQI 397; Protesters Use Chilli Spray on Police

The low wind speed and the low temperatures pushed the air quality of Delhi to the category of very poor on Monday morning with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 397 measured at 6am by data released by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Among 39 monitoring stations in Delhi 20 had AQI greater than 400, which would indicate that they are in the severe zone and 19 monitoring stations were in the very poor zone with the range of 300 to 400. The AQI of Delhi has remained in the very poor category of 18 consecutive days since November 6, with three days of severe air quality, between November 11-13 as various factors contributed to the distress of the issue as the winters began and farm fires immediately after Diwali in October.

The highest AQI was recorded in vivek vihar and Rohini (458) then Jahangirpuri (455) Wazirpur (448) and DTU (444).

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The average AQI of the city was 391 in 4pm on Sunday, which is categorized as very poor. The CPCB data showed that it was 370 on Saturday and 364 on Friday, respectively.

The unhealthy smog that has settled the city in weeks by now has become a health issue with more cases of respiratory, ocular and pulmonary symptoms reported by the inhabitants. The air quality issues have also raised alarm bells among doctors and health experts and hence the government has put measures of the stage 4 of Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) to be implemented under Stage 3.

Air quality demonstrations get out of control

Fearing the deteriorating air quality in Delhi and its health effects, some of the citizens organized a protest march at Indiagate on Sunday evening. But things got heated and out of control when there were demonstrators who were reported to spray police staff members with the chilli spray on their way out of the location.

A demonstration in India Gate which began over increasing air pollution levels in the national capital escalated on Sunday as some of protesting demonstrators were reported to have sprayed chilli on police personnel as they were cleared off the demonstration area, officials said.

The group said, "When the state makes the air itself poisonous, it becomes necessary for people to unite and raise their voices for their own survival."

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PTI reported the word of one senior police official who said that the protesters had assembled near the C-Hexagon and informed them that their protest there was hindering ambulances and medical staff going through them.

"We tried to explain to them that emergency vehicles were stuck and needed clear access, but they refused to move. The situation then turned into a scuffle, and some protesters used chilli powder on our personnel, which is unusual and rare," the officer said.

The officers who were at the scene felt that it might turn out to be a fight and urged the demonstrators to retreat.

"This was very unusual. For the first time, protestors used pepper spray on officers managing traffic and law and order," Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Devesh Kumar Mahla told PTI.

"A few of our officers were sprayed in the eyes and face and are currently receiving treatment at RML Hospital. Legal action is being taken in this regard," he said.

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