PM 2.5 levels have averaged around 180 to 300 micrograms per cubic meter in Delhi.
Highlight
- Delhi left without the effigies of Ravan burning in Dusshera to keep the air clean
- City braces for surge in Covid cases as pollution rises and winter approaches
- Delhi May See Up To 15,000 Covid Cases A Day In Winter, Report Says
New Delhi:
Delhi, bracing for a surge in coronavirus cases as pollution levels rise and winter approaches, did not have the traditional burning of Ravan effigies in Dusshera today, to keep the air clean. But by early afternoon, the city was shrouded in dense fog and the air quality index showed a “very poor” category in crowded areas.
A report from the National Center for Disease Control on October 8 said that Delhi can see up to 15,000 cases of Covid a day in winter. In the past two days, the daily increase has been more than 4,000, and the needle rose again after the chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, said the city had passed the peak of the disease.
“The situation is very complex. More and more people have coughs and other respiratory problems and that is due to contamination. The number of severe cases of Covid that we have had during the last weeks, is not decreasing,” said Dr. Rajesh Malhotra, head of Covid facilities at the AIIMS Trauma Center.
A study from Harvard University has shown that an increase of just one microgram per cubic meter in PM (Particulate Matter) 2.5 is associated with an 8% increase in the death rate from Covid-19.
But in Delhi, PM 2.5 levels have averaged around 180 to 300 micrograms per cubic meter in recent weeks. This is 12 times higher than the safe limits set by the World Health Organization.
An Air Quality Index or AQI of 352 was the overall reading for the city and areas such as Anand Vihar (407), Jahangirpuri (416) and Bawana (422) recorded “severe” levels of air pollution.
Concern about pollution has also affected the Dussehra celebrations. Arjun Kumar, head of the Luv Kush Ramleela committee, told NDTV that the celebrations throughout the city are on a very “small scale.” “Considering the contamination, even one or two Ramleelas that happen have not been installed effigies of Ravana to burn,” he added.
“Pollution and Covid are the biggest ‘rakshas’ (evils) of today. I call on all of you to take an oath to celebrate a pollution-free Dussehra and Diwali and fight together against the evils of Covid and the pollution, “said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, shooting a symbolic effigy of Ravana with a bow and arrow at his home in east Delhi.
The government claims that it is taking all measures to control the situation. “As soon as someone is determined to be positive, we conduct contact tracing and immediately isolate people. The case duplication rate is 70 days,” said Delhi Health Minister Satyender Jain.
But the burning of stubble in neighboring Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh states, which experts say is one of the main causes of pollution in Delhi, continues unchecked.
“Stubble burning has contributed 15 to 20 percent of the pollution,” said environmentalist Vimlendu Jha, who runs Swechha, a Delhi-based youth and environmental organization.
“Politicians must investigate this and not start a blame game. They need collective action from Bihar, UP, Haryana and the Delhi government. The prime minister must play a role in this,” he added.
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