Delhi Smog: Principal Secy to PM holds meeting with officials

Amid the severe air pollution in Delhi-NCR and neighboring States, PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister held a high-level review meeting with senior officials from Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi through video-conferencing on Sunday. The situation in the capital is such that public health emergency has also been issued by EPCA in the wake of the dipping air quality. The meeting was called to discuss measures to curb the menace of air pollution. Additionally, almost 300 teams are in the field in Delhi to reduce air pollution and the required machinery for this work has been distributed in the states.

Following this, the Chief Secretaries of these States have been asked to monitor the situation in various districts of their respective states on a 24x7 basis. Also, the Cabinet Secretary will monitor the situation on a daily basis. Mishra had earlier reviewed the situation on October 24. A series of meetings have taken place for the necessary preparation, including one meeting by the Cabinet Secretary on October 4.

The National Capital and its adjoining areas have been reeling with smog due to rising pollution from the past few weeks. Taking to Twitter, CM Kejriwal said Pollution has reached unbearable levels across India. Delhi Govt has taken many steps. Delhiites have made many sacrifices. Delhi is suffering for no fault of theirs. Punjab CM also expressed concern. Center should take immediate steps to provide relief. We will support the Centre in all initiatives."

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Delhi engulfed 

A thick blanket of smog engulfed several parts of Delhi on Sunday morning pushing its air pollution levels into hazardous territory. Visibility dropped significantly in the national capital as pollutants hovered in the atmosphere. Notably, for the first time in this season, the Air Quality Index (AQI) docked as high as 625 at 10 am despite light drizzles in the early hours. By afternoon, the AQI in neighboring Ghaziabad's Indirapuram was recorded at 492 and in Raj Nagar at 480, according to CPBC data. Most regions in Delhi were in the 'severe plus' category.

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(With inputs from ANI)