MUMBAI — India’s capital re-opened schools and some building sites on Monday, amid signs of receding air pollution that authorities had deemed hazardous, although a toxic foam besmirched stretches of the Yamuna river flowing through New Delhi. The world’s most polluted capital resumed its annual battle on pollution this month, despite government pledges to improve. Monday’s air quality index (AQI) of 336 was down from Thursday’s level of 509, but still “hazardous”, Swiss group IQAir said. Those remarks followed Saturday’s revocation of emergency measures ordered on Nov. 5 to keep air quality from worsening, including a ban on all building activity, but which were eased after index levels improved. Delhi’s air pollution gets worse in winter, when wind speeds drop and cooling air traps pollutants spewed by vehicles, industry and farmers burning agricultural waste in surrounding states to prepare for new planting.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer November 20, 2023 18:21 UTC