NEW DELHI: The New Delhi authorities declared a public health emergency on Friday and closed schools and all construction activities until next week, as air pollution in the city reached its worst level this year.
A thick mist loomed over the Indian capital this week caused by columns of toxic smoke from agricultural fires in neighboring states.
An index that measures the level of a deadly air pollutant reached 484 on a scale of 500 on Friday, the government's Central Pollution Control Board, the worst this year.
The index measures the level of PM 2.5, small particles that penetrate deep into the lungs. Any value greater than 400 represents a risk for people with respiratory diseases and can also affect even people with healthy lungs.
Some companies advised employees to avoid exposure to toxic air and work from home.
"They advised us to stay at home on Monday," said Anuj Rawat, account director at Kantar, the market research arm of the main British advertising WPP. Kantar employs about 400 people in his office in New Delhi, Rawat said.
The Environmental Pollution Control Authority, which leads the effort to address pollution in Delhi, said: "We have to take this as a public health emergency, since air pollution is now dangerous and will have an adverse impact. in the health of all, but particularly of our children. " He banned all construction work in the expanding metropolis of 20 million people and their neighboring cities until November 5.
Every year, farmers in the states of Punjab and Haryana burn crop residues to prepare for the planting season, ignoring government warnings.
According to the government-run SAFAR monitor, satellite images captured about 3,200 stubble burning incidents in Haryana and Punjab on Thursday that contributed to 44 percent of Delhi's pollution.
The toxic air has left several Bangladeshi cricketers with a sore throat and itchy eyes before their Twenty20 game against India on Sunday.
"The government knew that an emergency situation was approaching and did not take substantive measures for burning stubble or large industrial pollutants," said Sunil Dahiya, an energy and air pollution analyst at Greenpeace.
"A public health emergency situation began at least 10 days ago."
Schools closed by toxic smog
Delhi's Prime Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, offered free masks on Friday and ordered the closure of schools until November 5 to protect children.
Air pollution in New Delhi generally peaks around November 1 due to a combination of smog from fireworks during a Hindu festival and smoke from the burning of agricultural fields in neighboring states.
The reading of the air quality index at the US Embassy in New Delhi for air pollution particles reached nine times the level recommended by WHO on Friday. At such levels, people are recommended to avoid all efforts outdoors due to health risks.
The chief elected official of New Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, has already announced a plan to restrict the movement of private cars in the capital for almost two weeks, starting Monday.
Posted on Dawn, November 2, 2019
Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1514390/health-emergency-declared-in-delhi-as-pollution-hits-years-worst