Delhi chokes under severe air pollution for second consecutive day
Delhi: Delhi recorded the worst air quality in the country for the second consecutive day, prompting warnings from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) about serious health implications. The CPCB stated that severe air pollution affects healthy individuals and poses a grave threat to those with pre-existing health conditions.
The alarming situation follows a brief period of improved air quality earlier this month, which had led the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to lift severe restrictions on December 5. However, pollution levels spiked again, primarily due to stubble burning in neighboring states, vehicular emissions, and stagnant wind conditions.
On December 16, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed the 401-mark, categorizing it as ‘severe.’ By Tuesday afternoon, the AQI rose further to 433, with particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations surging to 251.5 micrograms per cubic meter—more than 16 times the World Health Organization's (WHO) safe limit of 15 micrograms for a 24-hour period.
PM2.5, composed of tiny inhalable particles, is particularly hazardous as it penetrates deep into the respiratory system, causing severe health issues. Experts attributed the worsening air quality to a significant drop in wind speed, which trapped pollutants in the atmosphere.
The Central government’s Air Quality Early Warning System forecasted that pollution levels would remain in the ‘severe’ category on Wednesday but might improve slightly to ‘very poor’ on December 19 and 20. Meanwhile, the re-imposition of Stage IV restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has halted construction activities and banned older vehicles in an attempt to mitigate the crisis.
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VHP writes to Delhi LG, seeks permission to assist police in tracing illegal Bangladeshi immigrants
New Delhi, Dec 18: The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Wednesday wrote to Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, seeking permission to provide assistance to police in tracing illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants living in the city.
This comes days after the Delhi Police launched a two-month special drive to identify and take strict action against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants residing in the city following a directive from the LG Secretariat .
In a letter to Saxena, VHP's Delhi unit secretary Surendra Kumar Gupta welcomed the move and urged him to allow VHP and its youth wing Bajrang Dal to assist city police and administration in tracing and identifying Bangladeshi and Rohingya "infiltrators".
"VHP Indraprastha Prant welcomes the initiative that you have taken to free Delhi from Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators. We want this effort to succeed," he said.
"That's why we want that VHP and Bajrang Dal assist administration and Delhi Police in identifying and finding out the infiltrators. You give us permission for this," Gupta added.
For this, the VHP functionary suggested that its Delhi unit team should be allowed to hold a meeting with senior officials of police and administration.
"If you allow, we are ready to provide all kind of support," he added.
Gupta also demanded that the DDA land where a statue of Rani Laxmibai has been installed in the city should be named after her and urged Saxena to issue necessary directive to concerned officials in this connection.
