Delhi pollution: AQI remains ‘severe plus’. Artificial rain soon? | 10 updates

Delhi AQI today: The air quality in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad and Gurugram reached “alarmingly high” levels, with most AQI stations touching 500-mark (severe plus) even on Tuesday morning, November 19, while a dense layer of smog enveloped the National Capital Region (NCR) for the seventh consecutive day.
While the Union health secretary issued an updated advisory on Monday to states and union territories regarding air pollution, Delhi University has decided to shift to online classes till November 23 and Jawaharlal Nehru University till November 22, the varsities announced amid worsening air quality levels in the national capital.
On Tuesday, environment minister Gopal Rai urged the Centre to convene an emergency meeting to tackle the issue and said it is the moral responsibility of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the matter.
Addressing a press conference, Rai said the Centre has not acted on the Delhi government’s repeated requests to allow artificial rain in the national capital, and he will again write to Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav.
“Delhi is under GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) Stage IV restrictions, and we are taking every possible step to reduce vehicular and industrial pollution. Restrictions have been imposed on private vehicles and trucks, aiming to curb the number of vehicles entering the city.
“We are consulting specialists to explore measures to reduce the smog. One of the solutions under consideration is artificial rain, which can help settle pollutants and clear the air,” Rai said.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the air quality index (AQI) of Delhi’s Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Bawana, Jahangirpuri, Major Dhyan Chand Stadium and several other places touched the 500-mark at 5am on Tuesday, prompting concerns about health and safety.
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(With inputs from agencies)