New Delhi, Oct 28: According to the Centre’s Decision Support System for Air Quality Management, vehicular emissions were the primary contributors to Delhi’s pollution on Sunday, accounting for approximately 10.7% of the city’s air pollution. Projections indicate that vehicular emissions will continue to be the leading factor in Delhi’s pollution over the next two days, with an estimated share of around 14%.
In addition to transport-related emissions, farm fires have also emerged as a significant contributor to Delhi’s deteriorating air quality. On Sunday, a total of 138 farm fires were reported in Punjab, 13 in Haryana, and 27 in Uttar Pradesh. Since September 15, 2024, the region has seen a substantial number of farm fires: 1,995 in Punjab, 713 in Haryana, 892 in Uttar Pradesh, and four in Delhi.
To combat this escalating pollution crisis, the Delhi government announced plans on Monday to deploy 10,000 civil defence volunteers who were previously terminated from their roles as bus marshals last year. These volunteers will work alongside teams from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), and the Transport Department to implement various pollution mitigation measures.
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi emphasized the importance of this collaborative effort in addressing the city’s air quality issues. The deployment of these volunteers is part of a broader strategy to enhance enforcement and public awareness about pollution control.
Meanwhile, weather conditions have not provided any relief. On Monday, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 34.4 degrees Celsius, which is 3.4 degrees above normal. This is significantly higher than the temperatures observed during the same period last year when temperatures ranged between 30 and 31 degrees Celsius.
