Tue Nov 05 19:48:55 UTC 2024: ## Delhi Braces for Another Round of Severe Air Pollution
**New Delhi, November 6, 2024** – Delhi’s air quality remains in the “very poor” category despite a slight improvement on Tuesday, and is expected to stay that way until Friday. This comes as the city faces a looming threat of worsening air pollution due to lower temperatures and reduced wind speeds over the next 10 days.
In response, the Delhi government will launch a campaign on Wednesday to deter open burning of waste, a major contributor to the city’s smog. This initiative follows a meeting chaired by Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday, where officials from 33 departments reviewed the ongoing Winter Action Plan and Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for a more effective response to the pollution crisis.
“Since Deepavali, the AQI levels have been consistently high,” stated Mr. Rai, highlighting the urgent need for action. To address the situation, several teams will be deployed to identify and penalize open waste burning. Additionally, all relevant departments have been instructed to provide heaters for night shift workers in both government and private sectors, particularly at construction sites, to minimize reliance on open fires.
The overall 24-hour average AQI in Delhi on Tuesday stood at 373, registering a slight decrease from the previous day’s 381. However, the city remains under the grip of “very poor” air quality, a cause for concern as the situation is likely to worsen in the coming days.
First Piper 