India launches annual plan to tackle air pollution
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
In New Delhi, India, authorities launched yearly measures to fight toxic air pollution in the megacity of 30 million people.
The city’s air quality reached 233 micrograms of pollutants per cubic meter on Thursday, around 15 times the permitted limit, and officials expect conditions to remain poor in the coming days. Air quality declines in the winter as colder air traps pollutants near the ground, with sources including coal power plants, vehicle traffic, construction sites, and agricultural waste burning.
The government of New Delhi banned open waste burning and ordered restaurants to stop using charcoal or wood. Starting November 1st, parking fees will double and government employees will work remotely to lower traffic emissions. Stricter construction rules will also take effect, followed by a complete ban on construction and demolition work from December 10th to January 20th. Last year, pollution levels peaked at 846 micrograms per cubic meter, 56 times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit.
UNICEF warned that polluted air increases children’s risk of acute respiratory infections.
