Pestering New Delhi is hazardous air pollution; a perpetual layer of smog surrounds the city, peering through minimum visibility, and making breathing harder. Till 6:00 AM on November 13, 2024, the Air Quality Index had risen to a worrying 361, thus severely classifying the city into the ‘Very Poor’ bracket, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The dramatic decrease in air quality has evoked critical health problems from the residents, who have become afflicted with wide ranges of symptoms connected to poor-quality air. The common grievances in daily lives include eye irritation, coughing, breathlessness, and runny noses. Health physicians were very vocal in pointing out that such a long exposure to such high levels of pollution can cause serious respiratory health problems in vulnerable groups in particular, such as children and the elderly.
Environmental conditions in the area continue to ring alarm for local residents. “Pollution levels are increasing and temperatures are declining. And more health issues are cropping up,” said Upendra Singh, a city resident. “Road visibility is close to nil, and eye irritation and breathing troubles have become common for all of us.”
The situation has raised particular alarm among senior citizens, especially those with young grandchildren. According to the elderly lady, “My grandchildren are now in pain from being unable to attend school because of this throat and respiratory problem. Of course, the main reasons for the matter are vehicle emissions and stubble burning, and the government needs to take action at the earliest.”
Some areas in Delhi recorded AQI values highly above the safe limits at 8 am. For instance, in Anand Vihar, AQI sat at 399, Punjabi Bagh reported 382 while Ashok Vihar reached a peak of 376, raising alarm bells on a critical pollution crisis across the city.
The Supreme Court has taken cognizance of the situation and has recently highlighted that right to a clean and healthy environment is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The Court criticized the authorities for failure in enforcement of firecracker ban on Diwali, an important pollutant and advised citizens to take precautionary measures like wearing masks and staying inside homes.
The government and residents should move with prompt urgency to address the growing calamity in order to reduce the effects of pollution on the health of the masses.
