The Indian capital of New Delhi and some neighboring states were shrouded in thick smog, Wednesday, November 17, forcing schools to close and power plants to shut down to combat the pollution.
—————————
READ MORE: With the Indian capital enveloped in a haze of toxic smog, authorities ordered six thermal plants in the city’s vicinity to shut temporarily, closed schools and colleges indefinitely and imposed work-from-home restrictions to control pollution levels that turned severe on several days this month.
A panel of the federal environment ministry has also banned construction activity until the end of the week and barred trucks, except those carrying essential commodities, from entering the city as part of the series of emergency measures.
Environmentalists pointed out that these steps would only marginally mitigate the air pollution crisis that grips New Delhi every winter.
“The emergency action is not a magic bullet that will address the pollution crisis,” said Anumita Rowchowdhury, executive director research and advocacy at New Delhi’s Center for Science and Environment. “It only ensures that it will not worsen the pollution but it will not clean the air.”
The world’s most polluted capital city has recorded levels for dangerous particles known as PM 2.5 that settle deep inside lungs many times higher than the standards set by the World Health Organization.
—————————
LINK: [ Ссылка ]
