CAQM summoned Punjab officials Friday to 'remind them' of commitment to curb farm fires. The panel noted that slower wind speed also contributes to rising air pollution levels.
Office of Principal Scientific Advisor and IIT are working with tech & industry partners to monitor the city's AQI. Their pilot project will run in Delhi NCR from Nov '22 to Feb '23.
Delay in peak stubble burning incidents, early Diwali, cracker ban and warmer temperatures all helped, though pattern of air pollution spiking on Diwali night remained the same.
The schools in Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat and Jhajjar will remain shut until further orders following the govt's order on measures to manage air quality in NCR districts of Haryana.
Delhi's AQI was 209 at 9am Saturday as opposed to 137 Friday, when stronger winds and a drastic reduction in stubble burning contributed to cleaner skies.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences' air quality monitor, SAFAR, said wind direction & wind speed is favourable for transport of pollutants from farm fires in Haryana, Punjab.
Data by researchers from University of Chicago stated India’s air pollution level reduced to 63.0 micrograms per cubic metre in 2018 from 71.7 micrograms per cubic metre in 2016.
2019 World Air Quality Report published in February said India was home to 14 of world's 20 most polluted cities. Number down to just two as on 7 April.
The last time this matter flared up was when Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, in a very similar directive in April, called for the relocation of stray dogs in the capital.
Finance ministry says the proposed revamp will focus on structural reforms, rate rationalisation & ease of living, & will be deliberated upon in the coming weeks.
The project is meant to be a ‘protective shield that will keep expanding’, the PM said. It is on the lines of the ‘Golden Dome’ announced by Trump, it is learnt.
Now that both IAF and PAF have made formal claims of having shot down the other’s aircraft in the 87-hour war in May, we can ask a larger question: do such numbers really matter?
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