Delhi chokes under smog, China's air quality improves

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While a blanket of thick smog is choking India’s capital New Delhi forcing it to close schools, China’s air quality is witnessing a slight improvement.

The worsening air quality forced Indian Medical Association to issue an advisory to close schools, offices and allow only emergency vehicles on the road from November 7 to 10. “Situation is bleak. We have advised the government to control vehicular movement, and also close schools and offices,” Dr. Krishan Kumar Agrawal told CGTN.

The air quality index (AQI) recorded PM 2.5 level crossing 700 micrograms on Tuesday morning. Particulate matter (PM) 2.5 are tiny particles that enter the bloodstream and lungs causing lethal diseases. At present, the PM levels are nearly seven times higher than the safe limit of 51 to 100. Average PM 2.5 level in the capital and adjoining areas are hovering at 400 to 450 micrograms.

Agrawal added that there is no relief in sight for the next few days – dipping temperature, low wind speed, and high humidity have worsened the air quality. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in a release mentioned adjoining areas of Delhi including Ghaziabad, Faridabad, and Noida are also under ‘severe’ pollution category.

People walk early in the morning as smog covers India Gate war memorial in New Delhi, November 6, 2017. Delhi, one of the world's most polluted cities, suffers from high levels of pollution during winter months, with millions of vehicles contributing to the city's bad air. / AFP

Flight operators have announced delays up to one to two hours in Delhi due to smog leading to poor visibility.

Crop Burning

India’s capital and neighboring areas are enveloped with severe air pollution every year during October to November. The air pollution phase also coincides with crop burning season in the neighboring states; farmers burn the leftover crop stubble after the harvest to clear their agricultural fields.

Many researchers feel that the smoke from the farmlands of neighboring states contributes significantly to smog in Delhi.

Concerned over the extreme pollution levels, Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister of New Delhi wrote a letter to his counterparts in Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to put a leash on crop burning menace that chokes the national capital every year. Kejriwal reacting over the intense air pollution in a tweet said, “Delhi has become a gas chamber.”

Crop burning in India is not only polluting its states but also caused massive smog in neighboring Pakistan.

China’s air quality improves

On the contrary, China, notorious for air pollution, has started showing improvement after launching a slew of measures to control emissions.

Dec. 17, 2016: Buildings enveloped in smog in Beijing, capital of China. Beijing activated its first red alert for smog this winter on Friday. The sky was gray across much of north China on Saturday as at least 24 cities, including Beijing and Tianjin, have activated red alerts to address the pollution. The measures included car restrictions on roads, suspension of construction and classes for kindergartens and primary schools as well as reduced emissions for factories. /Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai

A new study, air quality improvements and health benefits from China's clean air action since 2013, released on Tuesday maintains that the country’s Action Plan to counter air pollution has reduced particulate matter concentration in the air.

The study claims that PM 2.5 levels dropped across the country by 21 percent from 60.5 in 2013 to 47.5 micrograms in 2015. Researchers also pointed out that reduction in pollutants has also reduced the pollution-related death by nine percent. PM 2.5 related death has reduced from 1.22 million in 2013 to 1.10 million in 2015, the study said.

The study also mentions that China will have to continue with stringent measures to control the pollution.

Despite China reducing the PM 2.5 level, it is still a long way from World Health Organisation’s (WHO) ambient air quality standard of 10 micrograms. Beijing raised orange smog alert on Friday, second highest alert for air pollution.