As Delhi Chokes, Govt Asks Center For Choppers To Fight Pollution

The Delhi Govt has written to the Center for choppers & aerial sprinklers to check post-Diwali pollution levels

Delhi pollution levels spiked on Thursday night

(Photo: Reuters)

After the sharp spike in pollution levels following Diwali, the Delhi government has now requested the Center for water-sprinkling choppers to bring down atmospheric pollution levels during the coming months

“Delhi Govt to Centre, ready to bear the cost of aerial sprinkling in capital, requests use of choppers/aircrafts for aerial water sprinkling.”

Arunoday Prakash, Spokesperson, Delhi Govt on Twitter 

The Delhi govt has added that it’s ready to bear the cost for the same, since stagnant winds had slowed down

Pollution levels had reached hazardous level in the national capital following Diwali. Despite the Supreme Court order prohibiting the sale of fireworks in Delhi-NCR, fireworks were burst across the capital.

Particulate matter levels had crossed hazardous levels in many parts of the capital, reaching the “very poor” range. With permissible healthy limits hovering at 60-100, pollutant levels in many parts of the capital including RK Puram, Anand Vihar, and Punjabi Bagh reached as high as 999 on 19 October.

Anand Vihar’s pollution levels at “hazardous” levels on Monday night(Photo: Screengrab of Real Time Air Quality Index at 7 pm on 23 October) 

While the air quality index hovered around “Hazardous” levels in Anand Vihar, in other parts, the story is only marginally better, with parts of the city, including RK Puram, reporting air quality standards that hover in the “Unhealthy” range.

Also Read: Strong Winds in Delhi Dissipate Pollutants, Air Still ‘Very Poor’

RK Puram’s pollution levels at “Unhealthy” levels on Monday night (Photo: Screengrab of Real Time Air Quality Index at 7 p.m. on October 23) 

Even as air quality is expected to improve with increased winds, and the Delhi Government’s request comes through, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has said that more studies should be commissioned to understand the impact of such extreme pollution levels on health.

TERI strongly recommends commissioning these studies, and in the meanwhile, actions for controlling air pollution must continue without any doubts.

Sumit Sharma, Associate Director, TERI

Also Read: Your 8-Point Guide to Surviving Delhi’s Pollution Crisis

(Breathe In, Breathe Out: Are you finding it tough to breathe polluted air? Join hands with FIT to find #PollutionKaSolution. Send in your suggestions to [e-mail] or WhatsApp @ [phone])