Pollution is associated with a plethora of detrimental health effects – and eye health is among the facets of wellbeing which take a hit when pollution levels are high. Delhi is currently grappling with a major pollution crisis, with air quality levels plummeting to the extent that a public health emergency was declared in the […]
Air Pollution
Odd-even scheme challenged in the Supreme Court
The odd-even scheme — designed to curb pollution in Delhi by taking cars off the road — is being challenged in the Supreme Court. The initiative permits private vehicles to run only on certain days, depending on whether or not their license plates end in an odd or even numbers. The scheme has been rolled […]
Delhi takes action on air pollution amidst a health crisis
Mired in a public health crisis due to depleted air quality, Delhi is taking action on air pollution. “Immediate measures will be taken against the complaints received on Central Pollution Control Board portal [CPCB] or Sameer app [which provides updates on Air Quality Index (AQI) readings],” commented a senior official. Complaints registered with the CPCB […]
Surge in lung disease cases in Patna
Whilst much attention has been paid to air quality in Delhi, the issue is far from isolated to the Capital, affecting swathes of the country and blighting the health of millions. In Bihar state capital Patna, pollution is taking a significant toll on public health with the city witnessing a rise in lung disease cases. […]
Crop burning: Will it continue?
The practice of crop burning is among the drivers of the pollution crisis which has enveloped the National Capital Region (NCR) in India. However, even as the Supreme Court has taken a stringent line against it, will it continue? The practice of burning crop residue leads to between seven and eight million metric tonnes of […]
Delhi pollution: Supreme Court fumes as the city chokes
Delhi pollution has reached “unbearable” levels in the words of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, amidst plummeting air quality and the worst smog the National Capital Region has witnessed in almost three years. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi pollution – based on a 24-hour average – stood at 494 on the Air Quality […]
Supreme Court to hear on pollution Monday
As pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR) reaches emergency proportions, the Supreme Court will hear a report on the issue prepared by the Environment (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA). The Supreme Court constituted the EPCA to monitor air quality and effect improvements in the NCR. As the Air Quality Index (AQI) score for Delhi […]
Air quality plummets to emergency levels in Delhi
Air quality in the national capital has plummeted to emergency levels, with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal once again likening the city to a ‘gas chamber’. In declaring the emergency, the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) ordered that schools be shuttered in the National Capital Region (NCR), imposed a moratorium on construction activities, and […]
Delhi’s air quality continues to plummet
Delhi’s air quality continues to worsen, recording its worst Air Quality Index (AQI) readings on Friday thus far at the time of writing. The reading for Delhi stood at 315 at 8.30 a.m. on Friday, compared to 311 the previous day, designated “very poor”. Readings were equal or worse in other parts of the National […]
Delhi a ‘gas chamber’ once more. Crop burning to blame?
Pollution has once again turned the national capital into a ‘gas chamber’ according to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal – and he says that crop burning in neighbouring states is to blame. Every year, paddy field farmers burn between seven and eight million tonnes of crop waste, principally in Haryana and Punjab. Crop burning has been […]