As Delhi turns Gas chamber, CM Kejriwal requests Punjab and Haryana “with folded hands” to curb stubble burning

Punjab and Haryana state registered High Record of at least 2,400 farm fires, causing severe air pollution in Delhi.

NEW DELHI| As several reports stated that the air quality in Delhi reached the second-worst “severe” category, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed “with folded hands” to Punjab and Haryana to take concrete steps against stubble burning to prevent Delhi from turning into a “gas chamber” on Tuesday.

Government data show that till October 27, Punjab and Haryana have recorded an increase of at least 2,400 farm fires, majorly causing air pollution in Delhi. Kejriwal said the Delhi government is taking all possible steps to reduce states’ air pollution.

He tweeted, “I appeal to the Punjab and Haryana governments with folded hands on behalf of the residents of Delhi to take strong steps and prevent Delhi from becoming a gas chamber. At our level, we are making all possible efforts and will continue to do so”.

दिल्ली वसियों की ओर से मेरी पंजाब हरियाणा की सरकारों से हाथ जोड़ कर अपील है कि तुरंत कुछ ठोस क़दम उठायें और दिल्ली को गैस चेम्बर बनने से बचायें।

हमारे स्तर पर हम हर सम्भव प्रयास कर रहे हैं और करते रहेंगे। https://t.co/Tlylgzo334

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 29, 2019

Also Read: ‘Pollution in Delhi akin to smoking 15-20 cigarettes a day’: Delhi Doctors

The Delhi government said in a statement that the latest NASA images show a drastic spurt in crop residue burning in the neighbouring states. The stubble fumes from northwest regions have become one of the significant factors in adversely affecting Delhi’s air quality.

“The effective stubble fire counts of Haryana and Punjab have increased from 1,654 to 2,577 during the past 24 hours, which is a matter of extreme concern for the residents of Delhi,” it stated.

On Tuesday, the north-western wind direction increased stubble fumes moving towards Delhi and as per SAFAR-model, the stubble share may touch this year’s peak now.

On Tuesday several parts of Delhi experienced ”severe” air pollution.

Anand Vihar was the most-polluted area with an AQI of 436 and Nehru Nagar following with an AQI of 430. An Air Quality Index between 401-500 falls into the “severe” category and anything beyond that is “severe-plus emergency”.

The AQI takes into account five chief pollutants, including the PM10 and PM2.5. The higher the AQI value, the greater the health concern.

People were asked to wear an oxygen mask if it that necessary to move out of homes.