Delhi Pollution: Govt lifts ban, schools to reopen, but children are gasping for breath in India’s national capital

Climate activist Licipriya Kangujam outside the residence of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal against pollution crisis | Photo courtesy: Licipriya Kangujam | Twitter

The primary schools in Delhi are all set to reopen on November 9. The Delhi government on Monday lifted bans that were enforced to contain pollution. The government has also lifted curbs on the entry of trucks into Delhi and ban on construction workers related to roads, highways, flyovers, overbridges, pipelines and power transmission networks. Speaking to The Probe, several experts said children are gasping for breath in the national capital, and Delhi’s air quality continues to pose dangerous health risks.

The Delhi government has maintained that rapid improvement in air quality and reduction of farm fires is the reason for the lifting of the ban. “There has been an improvement in the air quality in the past two days. Yesterday and today, the AQI (Air Quality Index) has fallen to around 350. There has been a reduction in instances of stubble burning, and the wind direction has changed,” said Gopal Rai, Delhi Environment Minister.

Image posted by Nasa, which shows the impact of farm fires | Photo courtesy: earthobservatory.nasa.gov

While Union Minister Jitendra Singh said air pollution-related stubble burning cases had witnessed a rise of 160 per cent in Rajasthan and 20 per cent in Punjab this October as compared to October 2021, Gurvinder Singh, Director of Punjab Agriculture Department has said that a study conducted on the issue has found that stubble burning in Punjab has not influenced Delhi pollution to a great extent.

“Our Punjab Agricultural University has done a study which has found that stubble burning in Punjab is not causing much influence on Delhi pollution. The window for stubble management is too short, and this year again, it has become shorter because of the rains at the time before harvesting. Usually, we get 20 to 25 days for harvesting and sowing, but this year due to rain, we only had ten days to manage the stubble. Moreover, farmers are trying hard to handle the stubble,” noted Gurvinder Singh.

While there are multiple contradicting reports and statements on stubble burning in Delhi’s neighbouring states, Singh adds that the Punjab government is working towards achieving zero stubble burning from next year. “The Punjab government is trying its best to ensure that there will be no stubble burning from next year onwards. Some entrepreneurs have emerged who are managing the straw more effectively, and next year more machines are going to be introduced to attain zero burning.”

According to LocalCircles, 4 in 5 Delhi NCR families surveyed have someone experiencing pollution-related ailments: 18% have already visited a Doctor or a Hospital | Photo courtesy: LocalCircles

Delhi has also been under a smog blanket. A recent survey conducted by Local Circles found that 4 in 5 Delhi NCR families surveyed have someone experiencing pollution-related ailments like sore throat, cough, burning eyes, breathlessness and other related issues.