New Delhi In The Grip Of Thick Polluting Smog: Private Vehicles May Be Restricted

New Delhi: Pollution levels have crossed the ‘severe’ mark in most parts of Delhi. The capital city is covered with a thick envelope of smog. The government is now mulling a ban on private vehicles if the air pollution levels are not contained, said Bhure Lal, chairman of
the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA). Pollution levels spike in northern India with the onset of winter every year. This is the time when farmers burn crop residue. The EPCA has recommended stopping construction work, diesel gensets, brick kilns and garbage burning during this time.

Also Read: Crop Burning: Air Pollution Level Dips In Delhi 

Air Quality Index (AQI) levels in the city touched 469 in parts of the city on Tuesday, double of what it was a week back. The smog is expected to worsen during Diwali. AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal blamed the central and state governments of Punjab and Haryana for the state of air pollution in Delhi. “Every year, Delhi suffers because of the ineptness of the federal government and the state governments of neighbouring Punjab and Haryana states,” he tweeted.