This year was the first time that the sale and limited use of firecrackers allowed in Delhi after they were banned in 2020 due to ill-effects on health and the environment.
Report tabled Tuesday points at glaring gaps in pollution monitoring & data collection by agencies, says govt doesn't even record critical pollutants like lead.
According to Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi's AQI was 224 at 8 am Tuesday, ranging between 254 and 214 in different parts of the national capital.
Cleanest air recorded this year in Delhi was on 13 September, when AQI touched 52. Levels of ultrafine particulate matter or PM2.5 are increasing every year.
Till Saturday, a majority of Delhi’s pollution load was from stubble fires (25.10%), followed by vehicular emission (12.58%), & contamination from neighbouring states.
Graded Response Action Plan Stage III came into effect in NCR region today, imposing strict ban on various construction activities & on entry of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles.
In 2016, country's apex pollution watchdog told NGT that plant was ‘safe’. Four years on, its report said presence of metals in bottom ash & fly ash mostly 'below detection levels'.
According to the response, the CPCB received Rs. 422.56 crore as EPC funds between 2019 and 2024. Of this, Rs. 99.29 crore has been utilised for environmental protection activities.
Increasing population, urbanisation and concretisation cited as reasons for depletion in cities. Delhi, Jaipur & Hyderabad among cities severely affected by water contamination.
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.
In its first ever structured deal, Indian LPG companies are set to import almost 10% of their total needs from US. Trump has been pushing India to purchase more American energy.
Without a Congress revival, there can be no challenge to the BJP pan-nationally. Modi’s party is growing, and almost entirely at the cost of the Congress.
COMMENTS