The air quality in Delhi has experienced a rapid deterioration as a dense layer of dust has engulfed the area, resulting in reduced visibility and a decline in the air quality index (AQI) throughout the National Capital Region (NCR). In response to this situation, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai convened a meeting with officials on Thursday to address the matter.During the meeting, Gopal Rai highlighted that Delhi-NCR witnessed the influence of dust-laden winds originating from the Thar Desert and Pakistan on May 16 and 17. These westerly winds were identified as a major factor behind the surge in air quality index (AQI) levels. Gopal Rai specifically attributed the rise in dust pollution to the impact of these winds.image: yahooDuring the meeting, the minister emphasised the impact of dusty winds originating from the west, which played a major role in increasing the air quality index (AQI) levels and PM10 concentration in Delhi. As a result, the contribution of dust pollution rose significantly from 11% between May 1 and 15 to 65.77% on May 16 and 17, leading to severe PM10 levels in the city during that period.In response to the situation, the Delhi government has instructed relevant agencies to continuously operate anti-smog guns and sprinkle water at construction and demolition (C&D) sites. These measures aim to mitigate the impact of dust pollution and improve the air quality in the city.According to Gopal Rai, various departments have implemented measures outlined in the Summer Action Plan to tackle dust pollution in Delhi. These include the deployment of 84 Mechanical Road Sweeping (MRS) machines, 609 water sprinklers, and 185 mobile anti-smog guns across the city. Previously, anti-smog guns were only mandatory on construction sites larger than 20,000 square metres to address dust pollution.Gopal Rai stated that the regulations have been updated to require the installation of anti-smog guns on construction sites larger than 5000 square metres. Furthermore, all relevant departments have been directed to closely monitor construction sites and take appropriate action in accordance with the guidelines set by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in case of any violations.
