NEW DELHI, India (Reuters) — Delhi residents woke up to a bright morning and improved visibility on Saturday (November 18) after an overnight drizzle marginally improved the smog levels in the city. However, the levels of poisonous air borne particles, known as PM 2.5, remained “very unhealthy”.
According to a U.S. embassy measure, the level of PM 2.5 stood at 256 at 11 am (0530GMT) – five times the upper limit of “good” quality air at 50. This is an improvement over last week when the pollution levels climbed to 12 times above the recommended limit.
The city, cloaked by toxic smog for almost two weeks, saw some sunlight on Saturday. Residents, who have had a harrowing time over the last fortnight with smarting eyes, aggravated coughs and respiratory problems, were relieved.
A combination of farmers burning the stubble of the previous crop to prepare for new plantings, industrial pollution, vehicle exhaust and dust envelop northern India, including New Delhi, every year as winter approaches and wind speeds drop, contributing to the hazardous smog.
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.