IMA Declares Health Emergency In Delhi

    • Agencies
    • Publish Date: Nov 7 2017 3:47PM
    • |
    • Updated Date: Nov 7 2017 4:12PM
IMA Declares Health Emergency In Delhi

A public health emergency was declared in New Delhi Tuesday as a choking blanket of smog descended on the world's most polluted capital city.

The Indian Medical Association's declaration came as the US embassy website said levels of the fine pollutants known as PM2.5 that are most harmful to health reached 703 -- well over double the threshold of 300 that authorities class as hazardous.  "We have declared a state of public health emergency in Delhi since pollution is at an alarming level," the head of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Krishan Kumar Aggarwal told AFP.

"Delhi authorities have to make every possible effort to curb this menace."  The World Health Organization in 2014 classed New Delhi as the world's most polluted capital, with air quality levels worse than Beijing Since then authorities have closed power plants temporarily and experimented with taking some cars off the road. But on Tuesday many residents said too little was being done to tackle the scourge.

"It's a recurring problem and we need to find a quick and permanent solution to it before it is too late," said real estate agent Vipin Malhotra. "Delhi is becoming unliveable, particularly for children, as the pollution has reached uncontrollable levels."

Delhi's air quality typically worsens ahead of the onset of winter as cooler air traps pollutants near the ground, preventing them from dispersing into the atmosphere, a phenomenon known as inversion.

Firecrackers set off to celebrate the Diwali festival of lights in the city add to the toxic mix created by pollution from diesel engines, coal-fired power plants and industrial emissions.

The problem is further exacerbated by the burning of crop stubble by farmers after the harvest in northern India, a practice that remains commonplace despite an official ban.

The IMA had earlier written to Delhi's Chief Minister calling for the upcoming half marathon to be cancelled, saying the health the consequences for runners could be "disastrous".

Running in such conditions could trigger asthma attacks, worsen lung conditions and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, it said.

On Monday telecoms giant Airtel threatened to pull its sponsorship of the event, due to be held on November 19, if authorities failed to improve the situation.

A report in the Lancet medical journal last month said pollution had claimed as many as 2.5 million lives in India in 2015, the highest in the world.

India's Central Pollution Control Board said high levels of moisture in the air and a lack of wind meant emissions had become trapped in the environment.

"Total calm conditions, marked by the complete absence of wind, has led to the situation," Dipankar Saha, a senior executive with the board, told the Press Trust of India news agency.

"The moisture has trapped emissions from ground-level sources."

The hashtag #smog was the top trending topic on Twitter early Tuesday as angry residents demanded stronger measures to curb pollution.

"This is the state of air quality this morning in Delhi-NCR! Horrific!" posted one resident beside a picture of thick smog.

Unprecedented pollution levels this time last year forced schools to shut as authorities scrambled to contain the crisis. 

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Comments

Aishwarya Iyer Deens Academy

This is really a huge problem and some permanent measures have to be taken to curb the sky rising pollution levels, not only in Delhi but also elsewhere. The citizens, however, shouldn''t just blame the government and other bodies. It is also their fault that they burst crackers during Diwali to such an extent that the pollution levels just zoom. although not everyone, but most Delhites burst a limitless amount of crackers which contributes very greatly. Public understanding is necessary.

CHHAVI RANA RUKMINI DEVI PUB. SCHOOL(PITAMPURA)

We must control this menace of pollution before it controls us.

Sahil gupta RYAN INT. SCH. SOHNA RD GURGAON

The rising of pollution and diesel cars are the actual problems we have.We should take the responsibilities of using less diesel generators as said by government by banning diesel generator on day before and and after days of diwali. If you crackers are most polluted reason you are somehow wrong as in my opinion we only have diwali once in a year, so how can we have most pollution on one day this is mistake of whole year. And somehow whole world is going through pollution in last 15-20 years.

Sahil gupta RYAN INT. SCH. SOHNA RD GURGAON

The rising of population and diesel cars are the actual problems we have.We should take the responsibilities of using less diesel generators as said by government by banning diesel generator on day before and and after days of diwali. If you crackers are most polluted reason you are somehow wrong as in my opinion we only have diwali once in a year, so how can we have most pollution on one day this is mistake of whole year. And somehow whole world is going through pollution in last 15-20 years

Roma Ramcoumar Bethel Mat Hr Sec School

This is indeed true . We must take preventive measures so that it wont happen again in other metropolitan cities . But it is quite shocking that the capital city is like this .

Bhumika Arora Hansraj Model School

The perils of pollution have continued to be in Delhi since long. Concrete steps are needed to solve the problem. Pollution has emerged gradually and will also reduce gradually conditioned that we don''t forget to care about the hazard once it is going down.

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