Entire North India including Delhi/NCR is reeling under the wave of severe pollution. The air has become toxic. The air quality index, which remained in the very severe category for the last three days reached 500 mark in many areas on Wednesday.
The Air Quality Index at Anand Vihar in Delhi stood at 463, while it reached 486 in Jahangirpuri and 489 in Rohini. At the same time, the Air Quality Index in Indirapuram of Ghaziabad was 457 and in Vasundhara it was 476. In Noida Sector1, this index reached 483.
Taking the pollution issue suo moto, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to explore the feasibility of a hydrogen-based Japanese technology as a permanent solution to the air pollution in the NCR region and other parts of north India.
With an aim to curb the menace of pollution in Delhi, the New Delhi Municipal Council on Wednesday began sprinkling water on Feroz Shah Road to settle the dust. Union government also engaged in solving the problem with the representatives of five states.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Delhi government on a petition challenging the road rationing odd-even scheme. The court also directed the government to present data before it. Meanwhile, Delhi government clarified that odd even Scheme may extended if needed. The BJP, in Delhi assembly described the scheme failure, calling it a political stunt by Delhi cm Arvind Kejriwal.
According to weather experts, a fall in the temperature and wind speed led to the accumulation of pollutants. The problems were compounded by a cloud cover that blocked sunlight. Air quality in the national capital is only likely to improve on Friday with an increase in wind speed due to a fresh western disturbance and a dip in farm fires.