No Clear Solution To India''s Smog Crisis This Year
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published November 17, 2017 | 11:25 AM
As pollution level climbed to 12 times above the recommended limit this week in India's capital, government officials said they knew what was needed to control the smoky haze, but nothing would be done, at least this year
BEIJING, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Nov, 2017 ) :As pollution level climbed to 12 times above the recommended limit this week in India's capital, government officials said they knew what was needed to control the smoky haze, but nothing would be done, at least this year.
A major source of the smog at this time of year across northern India, including New Delhi, is farmers burning the stubble of the previous crop to prepare for new plantings in November, according to a report published in Global Times here on Friday.
An estimated $600 million is needed to provide farmers with alternatives, but the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and opposition parties in power in New Delhi and nearby Punjab states are squabbling over who will pay, said three Federal government officials who have been briefed on the situation.
"Nothing more is likely to happen this year," said one of them. "We're now praying. Only God can save us." The official said he had bought pollution masks for his family and installed air purifiers at his home in New Delhi, now the most polluted city in the world, according to the Brookings Institute.
The city is home to more than 20 million people. A spokesperson of the federal environment ministry declined to comment on federal and state governments bickering over funds to tackle the problem of stubble burning.
The provincial leaders of New Delhi and neighboring Haryana states, after exchanging barbs on Twitter for days, have agreed on measures to control the smog - in 2018. As a thick blanket of haze settled over parts of northern India, including the capital, over the past few days, the official response to what has become an annual phenomenon has been marked by paralysis and lack of ownership, interviews with government officials show.
It's been particularly bad this year with levels of PM 2.5, tiny particulate matter that reaches deep into the lungs, climbing to over 600 last week. The upper limit for healthy air is 50, the government has said.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 26 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 26 April 2024
ICC Womens T20 World Cup Qualifier, Match 2: Ireland Women open with Comfortable ..
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
Nasreen Noori’s book ‘Popatan Jahra Khwab’ launched
Wafaqi Mohtasib inspection team visits Excise and taxation office
AJLAC announces 5th Conference titled ‘People’s Mandate: Safeguarding Civil ..
Pak-US officials engage to enhance trade, investment ties
More Stories From Weather
-
Rain-windstorm/thunderstorm expected in most parts of country: PMD
16 hours ago -
Partly cloudy weather with chances of scattered rain predicted
4 days ago -
Rains' New spell expected from April 24 in KP
4 days ago -
Hot, dry weather forecast for Sindh
4 days ago -
Dry weather to prevail in most parts of country:PMD
6 days ago -
More rain expected in various areas of Balochistan during next 24 hours
7 days ago
-
Rain lashes parts of federal capital on Thursday
8 days ago -
PMD predicts rain in country’s different parts
8 days ago -
Rain with few heavyfall/hailstorm likely in most parts of country:PMD
9 days ago -
Sindh likely to receive rains on Thursday
9 days ago -
Pakistan Army continues rescue operations in rain-affected areas
11 days ago -
Rain-windstorm/thunderstorm at various parts of country:PMD Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD ..
28 days ago