As Delhi's air quality remained in the 'very poor' category on Wednesday, environment minister Gopal Rai appealed to people and made five requests to curb air pollution.
Mr Rai said schools will be closed if and when the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) stage IV kicks in.
On stubble burning in Punjab, Mr Rai said the responsibility does not lie just with the state government but the Centre has a role to play too.
"Central government gives government subsidies to control stubble burning but farmers want direct incentives," Mr Rai said. "Punjab's stubble burning could have come down by 50% if centre cooperated."
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said construction activities have been suspended across Delhi and that financial support will be provided to workers during that period.
"Construction activities have been stopped across Delhi in view of pollution. I have directed Labour Minister, Sh Manish Sisodia, to give Rs 5000 pm as financial support to each construction worker during this period, when construction activities are not permitted," Mr Kejriwal tweeted.
Construction activities have been stopped across Delhi in view of pollution. I have directed Labour Minister, Sh Manish Sisodia, to give Rs 5000 pm as financial support to each construction worker during this period, when construction activities are not permitted
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 2, 2022
The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi stood at 354 on Wednesday morning.
Two-year-old Sumaiya Ansari, a resident of India's Byrnihat town which is ranked the world's most polluted metropolitan area by Swiss Group IQAir, was battling breathing problems for several days before she was hospitalised in March and given oxygen.
Earth Day is observed in over 190 countries, making it one of the largest secular observances in the world.
Delhi AQI Update: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed that the national capital's air quality was in the moderate category.
The electrification of Caltrain in the San Francisco Bay Area has led to a significant reduction in toxic black carbon, improving air quality for commuters and residents. The study found an average reduction of 89% in riders' exposure to black carbon
India's air quality is far short of WHO standards and more than 40 per cent of its population still relies on biomass fuels, leading to deaths every year, an official from the United Nations body has said.
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