Delhi NCR’s denizens woke up this morning to air quality that they could taste before they breathe it in. The region resembled a real-life version of a post-apocalyptic movie set at 8:00 AM today, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hitting 484 and visibility impacted. In any civilised society, this would be cause for mass outrage. In Delhi, it’s just another day in paradise, just as it has been for the past decade and more where this story has played out regularly.
The Great Delhi Shutdown
When the going gets tough, the tough… well, they shut everything down in Delhi. Here’s a list of everything that has been ground to a halt because of Delhi’s worsening pollution.
Trucks: The Unwanted Guests
Truckers have been given the “no entry signal”, unless they’re carrying essential goods or running on clean fuel.
Construction: The Pause Button
All those half-finished buildings dotting the skyline are going to stay that way for a while. Public construction projects are taking an involuntary vacation given the situation.
Schools: The Great Online Migration
If America has snow days stopping school from happening, Delhi has smog days. Schools are going online faster than you can say “Zoom fatigue”, except for 10th and 12th graders.
The Blame Game Olympics
When the going gets tough, the tough… start pointing fingers! It’s time for Delhi’s favourite sport: “Who’s Fault Is It Anyway?”
The Usual Suspects
A number of factors have been blamed for Delhi’s worsening air situation, including:
- Stubble burning in neighbouring states (not like it happens every winter)
- Vehicular emissions (because cars run clean for the rest of the year)
- Construction dust (because, why not?)
- Industrial pollution (to be fair, factories belching smoke are a valid target)
- Diwali firecrackers (because who needs clean air when you can have pretty lights?)
A load of GRAP
No, GRAP isn’t a new boy band or a trendy diet. It’s the Graded Response Action Plan, Delhi’s very own superhero squad against pollution.
With stage 4 of the plan now kicking into action, expect the movement of trucks, vehicles, construction activities, schools, and offices to be impacted, among other things.
The GRAP for Delhi-NCR is divided into four stages of air quality: Stage 1 for “poor” air quality (AQI ranging from 201 to 300), Stage 2 for “very poor” air quality (AQI from 301 to 400), Stage 3 for “severe” air quality (AQI from 401 to 450), and Stage 4 for “severe-plus” air quality (AQI above 450). Delhi’s current situation has caused the powers that be to take drastic action.
Breathing Easy (Or Not)
As Delhi continues its battle against the invisible enemy, one thing’s for sure – this air quality crisis is giving us all a crash course in environmental science, public policy, and the art of finding humour in dire situations.
So, dear Delhiites, hang in there! Keep your spirits high (even if the AQI is higher), stay safe, stay indoors, and may the odds (and the air quality) be ever in your favour.
