Page 42 - 15NOV2019E

Pollution politics

intensifies in Delhi

as winter arrives

The air quality, which was fluctuating between “poor” and “very
poor” in October, is likely to aggravate further from November
due to change in the weather condition and industrial construction,
reports tehelka bureau
atin, 32, is tensed as his wife has in September by the Centre for Science
warned him of leaving him per- and Environment (CSE), showed that
manently if he doesn’t leave the air pollution level in Delhi dropped
Delhi by November. The reason by 25 per cent, which was lowest in the
J is Jatin’s wife had suffered from past three years. “The analysis of annual
TB last year and the return of Delhi’s air quality data submitted by the Central (Must) we appreciate
abysmal pollution level is giving them Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to the
nightmares. “We are not able to breath Parliament shows that the three-year that both AAP and
even inside our house due to smell of average of PM2.5 levels during 2016-2018 BJP are finally talking
smog and odour from the garbage dump is 25 per cent lower than the 2011-2014
in Ghazipur. My wife can’t survive here,” baseline (three-year average),” reads the about the environment
says Jatin, who is currently living in study. and showing the much
Anand Vihar. The politics on the air pollution soon
With the onset of autumn, the air began after the study was out when both needed concern. Having
quality index (AQI) of Delhi and national AAP and BJP came forth to claim credit said that none of the
capital region (NCR) dropped drastically, for 25 per cent reduction in the pollution
causing numerous health inconvenienc- level by listing out initiatives from their party contributed in
es to its citizens. In fact, many Delhizens past records. Though the parties since the reduction of air
have complained of respiratory prob- then have made Delhi air pollution a part
lems like heavy breathing, toxic smells, of their speeches, but not without attack- pollution as they claim.
burning sensation in eyes and nose due ing each other. Their priorities are
to the spike in the air pollution level. Post Taking a dig at the anti-pollution body
the Diwali festival, the air quality, which CPCB recently, the AAP had asked the different. If you ask the
was fluctuating between “poor” and “very apex body to “take a leaf out” of Delhi
poor” in October would now aggravate Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s book on MET department, they
further from November due to change how to tackle pollution in cities like Vara- would tell you the real
in the weather conditions and indus- nasi. “I am sure the CPCB’s concerns are
trial construction. Adding more woes to at par if not more for the people of Vara- reason behind the drop
the pollution levels is the smoke coming nasi as for the people of Delhi and you in air pollution which
from the neighbouring states of Punjab will find it timely to hold the erring par-
and Haryana due to crop stubble burn- ties accountable,” said Raghav Chadha, was the favourable
ing, which takes place every year during spokesperson, AAP. weather and wind
the winter season. BJP leader Vijay Goel who blames
Notably, an AQI between 0 and 50 is Arvind Kejriwal for the deteriorating condition this year, not
considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfac- quality of air in Delhi said that it is the AAP or BJP.
tory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 central government which has taken
‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 important steps to combat air pollution. vikrant Tongad,
and 500 ‘severe’. Earlier, a study released “The centre has made national highways, environmentalist to Tehelka

Tehelka / 15 november 2019 42 www.Tehelka.com