DECEMBER 3, 2018
NEW DELHI – The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday imposed a fine of Rs 25 crore on the government of Delhi for failing to curb pollution in the national capital.
The Capital has been reeling under air pollution crisis. Delhi’s air quality has been in the “very poor” category for the past one week. Pollution levels in the national capital showed marginal improvement on Sunday and came out of the “very poor” zone for the first time in six days.
And on Monday, the air quality in Delhi oscillated between “poor” and “very poor” categories due to local pollutants as authorities predicted a further rise in the pollution level.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded an overall Air Quality Index or AQI of 314, which falls in the “very poor” category. The Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) said the air quality in Delhi was “very poor” and that there was a “insignificant intrusion (of pollutants) from outside of Delhi” at present.
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor” and 401 and 500 is considered to be “severe”.
At these levels, there may be discomfort in breathing on prolonged exposure, while people with heart disease could face discomfort with short exposure.
Courtesy/Source: Hindustan Times
