LPG, jet fuel prices hiked in Delhi
State-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) on Saturday hiked the price of subsidised cooking gas, or LPG, along with kerosene and…
Delhi’s air quality has shown slight improvement owing to the wind blowing from Rajasthan even as pollution levels in the capital remain quite high, sources said.
The Centre and the Delhi government have been playing a blame game on the issue, as authorities are yet to take measures to tackle the problem.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s municipal schools remained shut on Saturday. Many private schools like Shri Ram School, Shiv Nadar and Heritage School have already closed and many others have suspended sports and other outdoor activities to protect kids from the smog.
Union Environment Secretary AN Jha has blamed the state government’s weak enforcement mechanism for alarming air quality in the capital.
The Union government had on Friday held a meeting with senior officials from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh on measures to tackle air.
Pulling up the government for indulging in a blame game and not tackling the matter properly, National Green Tribunal (NGT) NGT has summoned the environment secretaries of Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, UP and Haryana to present an action plan on November 8.
The green bench had earlier directed Delhi government to stop diesel vehicles over 10 years old from plying in the capital. Old diesel vehicles and crop burning are two main reasons for worsening Delhi’s pollution levels.
The call came as Delhi’s air quality deteriorated to alarming levels and witnessed its worst smog situation in 17 years on Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesday, the levels were 9.4 times the standard norms.
The air quality of Delhi and Gurgaon, however, got a tad better on Saturday, as light wind from Rajasthan helped disperse the smog and particle pollutants in the air.
As per government data, the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi improved from ‘severe’ on Thursday and ‘very poor’ on Friday. Gurgaon also improved on Friday.
However, the AQI of Faridabad worsened further.
As per weather experts, low wind speed and local emissions could be the reasons.
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