(Image source from: m.economictimes.com)
The city of New Delhi has switched to online classes due to the deteriorating toxic air pollution, which has exceeded the World Health Organization's recommended daily limit by over 60 times. Despite various government initiatives, the problem remains unresolved, leading to thousands of premature deaths each year, particularly affecting children and the elderly. The levels of dangerous PM2.5 pollutants, which can enter the bloodstream through the lungs, have reached alarming levels, with one monitoring station recording levels 65 times the WHO maximum. Residents, like the rickshaw puller Subodh Kumar, are forced to work outdoors despite the hazardous conditions, as they have no choice but to earn a living. The city is blanketed in a dense, acrid smog, which has been labeled as "hazardous" by the IQAir monitoring system.
The city experiences severe air pollution each year, primarily due to stubble burning by farmers in nearby regions to clear their fields, as well as emissions from factories and traffic. A recent report found hazardous fumes also coming from a power plant that incinerates the city's landfill waste. Schools have been ordered to suspend in-person classes, and additional restrictions have been imposed, such as limiting diesel trucks and construction, in an effort to improve air quality. Authorities hope that keeping children home will reduce traffic. The government has advised children, the elderly, and those with respiratory or heart conditions to stay indoors as much as possible.
Many in the city cannot afford air filters or effectively seal their homes from the dangerous, foul-smelling air. A 45-year-old rickshaw taxi driver named Rinku Kumar said, "The wealthy ministers and officials can stay indoors, but not ordinary people like us. Who can even afford an air purifier when paying monthly bills is a challenge?" The smog has delayed dozens of flights in the past week. New Delhi and the surrounding metropolitan area, home to over 30 million people, consistently ranks highest globally for air pollution in winter. Cooler temperatures and slow-moving winds trap deadly pollutants each winter, from mid-October to at least January. The Supreme Court ruled that clean air is a fundamental human right and ordered the central and state-level authorities to take action. However, the court met again on Monday to discuss the lack of progress on this health crisis. Critics say arguments between rival politicians heading neighboring states and between central and state-level authorities have worsened the problem. Politicians are accused of not wanting to anger key figures in their constituencies, particularly powerful farming groups.
