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New Delhi, Oct 21 (IANS) A day after Diwali festivities lit up the sky across the national capital, BJP leader and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) vice-chairman Kuljit Singh Chahal on Tuesday assured citizens that the NDMC is fully prepared and taking comprehensive measures to deal with rising pollution levels across the region.
Speaking to IANS, Kuljeet Singh Chahal said, “After 27 years, this was the first Diwali that was celebrated without any restrictions, thanks to the BJP-led government. Despite the celebrations, the NDMC area, one of the greenest areas of the city, has managed to maintain relatively low pollution levels. Our teams are alert, updated and our anti-smog guns are working. Last year Compared to the 1980s, pollution levels have declined significantly.”
Highlighting key areas, he said, “Last year, AQI readings in places like Chandni Chowk, Okhla and Rohini were around 500. This year, they are hovering around 300. Anand Vihar, which once crossed 600, is now close to 300. This is real progress.”
Chahal emphasized that NDMC is working in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India and a developed NDMC with the support of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
“We are not only focusing on air pollution but also on water pollution, especially with Chhath Puja around the corner. The people of Delhi can be assured that NDMC is with them, and we are making every possible effort to ensure clean air and water,” he said.
Meanwhile, the overall air quality index (AQI) in Delhi-NCR remained in the ‘very poor’ category, touching 400 on Tuesday morning, a day after Diwali celebrations, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
While the overall AQI stood at 347, levels in many areas were recorded in the ‘severe’ category.
As per CPCB classification, AQI between 0-50 is categorized as ‘good’, 51-100 as ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 as ‘moderate’, 201-300 as ‘poor’, 301-400 as ‘very poor’ and 401-500 as ‘severe’.
Several areas in Delhi recorded hazardous AQI levels: Narela (354), Najafgarh (334), Mundka (357), Mandir Marg (325), Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium (358), Lodhi Road (334), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (317), Jahangirpuri (404), ITO (345), Dilshad SAMEER app developed by CPCB. According to the data, Garden (346), Dwarka Sector 8 (333), Mathura Road (341), Bawana (418), and Anand Vihar (352).
–IANS
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