Delhi Fire Services Is Sprinkling Water To Control Pollution But No End To Stubble Burning Yet

Delhi has recorded a further improvement in the air quality on Sunday morning due to a slight increase in the wind speed. The overall air quality index in the city read at 254 at 9.45 am, down from 312 at 4 pm on Saturday.

representative image. agencies

However, pollution is expected to increase again from Monday due to a dip in wind speed under the influence of a fresh western disturbance.

In the meanwhile, the Delhi Fire Services on Saturday began sprinkling water in 13 pollution hotspots in the city to check the spread of pollutants like dust. The exercise was initiated following orders from the Delhi government.

BCCL

The 13 pollution hotspots in Delhi, identified by the Central Pollution Control Board, are Rohini, Dwarka, Okhla Phase II, Punjabi Bagh, Anand Vihar, Vivek Vihar, Wazirpur, Jahangirpuri, RK Puram, Bawana, Narela, Mundka and Mayapuri.

A total of 20 fire tenders have been pressed into service and more will be deployed after an analysis of fire calls, Chief Fire Officer Atul Garg said.

It has been evident to the world that Delhi has been grappling with hazardous levels of pollution since late October, with the air quality dipping to "severe" category a few times. The city had also seen a marginal improvement in the air quality on Saturday.

BCCL

However, despite studies pointing that as much as 40 per cent of the pollution problem in Delhi NCR is a result of stubble burning in the adjoining states, there seem to be no end to the practice.

News agency ANI has reported again that farmers have continued to burn stubble near the Ludhiana highway in Punjab. The report mentioned the burning incident on Saturday despite strict orders to curb them. This is despite the state government taking strict measures against the rising cases of stubble burning in Punjab.

The Ludhiana District Administration had on November 6 arrested 22 farmers and registered 45 FIRs against farmers in an attempt to contain stubble burning and bring the level of pollution under control. Earlier, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on November 6 said that Punjab government will implement the order of the Supreme Court directing Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to give incentives for small and marginal farmers who shun stubble-burning.

FILE PHOTO. AFP

Burning crop residue in the fields of Punjab has been a major reason for the rise of pollution in Haryana, Delhi-NCR and Punjab regions, leading to a thick layer of smog in the areas earlier this month.

The Rajya Sabha also took up the issue of pollution against this backdrop even as the air quality index has been hitting record levels this season. But instead of finding a concrete solution to the pollution menace, the Upper House of Parliament witnessed disruptions during the much awaited and significant debate. Members from the ruling BJP and the opposition led by the AAP and supported by Congress, SP and others were involved in heated exchanges for over 10 minutes when Rajya Sabha assembled after lunch to discuss about rising pollution levels.

It should also be noted that several benches remained empty as honourable MPs had missed the vital discussion.