The first day of 2021 started with the National Capital’s air quality plunging to ‘hazardous’ levels.
Delhi woke up to polluted skies on the first day of the year with 542 AQIs which is considered to be dangerous.
The New Year which starts this weekend is likely to make things even worse as the traditional rounds of firecrackers add to the air pollution. The New Year fallout and air pollution is an issue every year – but especially during a pandemic research illustrates that polluted air is not only bad in general, it’s bad for the transmission and severity of COVID-19.
One must have heard bursting of firecrackers across Delhi and its neighbouring areas last night even though curfew was imposed in view of rising COVID cases.
It is to be noted that the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Thursday imposed night curbs in the national capital in order to check the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). The restrictions have been imposed just ahead of New Year celebrations, adding that not more than five people will be allowed to assemble at a public place and no new year celebrations, events or gatherings will be permitted post 11 pm.
Despite the night curfew in Delhi people gathered in large numbers at various locations, violating all the Covid norms but no action is still taken by the Delhi Government.
As per the IMD, the ventilation conditions are likely to slow down in Delhi causing poor dispersion of pollutants, due to which the air quality is predicted to remain ‘very poor’.
The CPCB has been reviewing the air quality and meteorological scenario in Delhi-NCR on a continuous basis and the NCR states – Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan – have been asked to implement its guidelines on curbing pollution.
The CPCB has deployed 50 teams for field inspections in Delhi-NCR with special emphasis on hotspots since October 15 to assess the ground scenario and ensure enforcement of measures for control of air pollution.
