Delhi residents endured the fourth consecutive day of 'poor' air quality on Thursday, with indicators at 13 monitoring stations across the city being in the 'red zone', up from two the day before.
Residents have started complaining about respiratory issues, dry and itchy throat and burning in the eyes.
The 13 stations -- Ashok Vihar, Dwarka Sector 8, Patparganj, Punjabi Bagh, Rohini, Bawana, Burari, Jahangirpuri, Mundka, Narela, Okhla Phase 2, Shadipur, and Vivek Vihar -- recorded readings above 300, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The overall air quality remained in the 'poor' category for the fourth consecutive day, with an average 24-hour reading of 285 recorded at 4 pm.
The city witnessed a cloudy sky through the day with a maximum temperature of 36.2 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal, according to the weather department.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court reprimanded Punjab and Haryana over the issue of stubble burning, stating that no effective action has been taken by the states to address the problem. The smoke from stubble burning exacerbates air pollution in the national capital, which gets shrouded in thick smog, leading to respiratory issues.
Noting that there has been a substantial increase in stubble-burning cases in both states and calling it an "absolute defiance" of direction by the Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM), the court summoned Haryana Chief Secretary on October 23.
"We see that the affidavit by Haryana is full of non-compliance. We direct Commission to take penal action against State Officers under Section 14. We direct Chief Secretary Mr Prasad to be physically present on next Wednesday. Commission will make statement about coercive action taken against State officials. Chief Secretary holds an explanation to court not only for non-compliance but also for not taking stringent action against violators," Justice AS Oka said.
Follow us
