Rahul Gandhi has demanded a Lok Sabha debate on the severe air pollution plaguing Indian cities, urging the government to present a concrete plan. Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality remains ‘very poor’ and is predicted to turn ‘severe’ by Sunday, with light winds failing to disperse pollutants. Moderate fog is also expected.
NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has demanded that the Lok Sabha discuss in detail air pollution crisis as major cities in the country are living under a blanket of poisonous air. Gandhi urged the govt to present a plan to combat the crisis, on which there are no ideological differences. After he raised the issue during the Zero Hour in the House on Friday, Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said the govt was ready to discuss it. The structure of the debate would be finalised, he said. He said the govt was clear from the start it was ready to discuss the issue and find a solution.
AQI still very poor, may turn severe in coming days
NEW DELHI: The air quality of Delhi remained in the very poor category with an AQI of 349 on Friday. It was 305 on Thursday and 259 on Wednesday. It is likely to deteriorate to the ‘severe’ range (AQI of above 400 on a scale of 500) on Sunday.Central Pollution Control Board’s data highlighted that of the 39 active monitoring stations in Delhi, the AQI crossed 400 at eight stations. The most polluted station was Jahangirpuri at 438, Wazirpur at 425, Rohini at 423 and Anand Vihar at 420.”As light winds are prevailing in the city, it is unable to disperse the pollutants. Two consecutive western disturbances are likely to impact the city from today. Though these western disturbances are feeble, wind speed is predicted to remain low,” said an official.The air quality is likely to remain in the very poor category on Saturday, but it is likely to turn severe on Sunday, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, which functions under the Union ministry of earth sciences.Meanwhile, the minimum temperature was recorded at 8 degrees Celsius, one degree below normal. The maximum temperature settled at 26.6 degrees Celsius, four degrees above normal. “Moderate fog is likely to form from Saturday to Monday,” said a Met officialThe minimum temperature is expected to rise from Saturday due to the impact of a western disturbance. India Meteorological Department has predicted that the minimum temperature may rise to 10-12 degrees Celsius during the weekend. The maximum temperature is likely to stay in the range of 23-25 degrees Celsius over the next few days.
