KALINDI KUNJ(New Delhi) : Toxic foam was seen floating on the Yamuna River on Sunday as pollution levels in the river continue to rise.
Dinesh Kumar, an NGO owner who comes to clean the Yamuna Ghats on weekends, said, “There is a lot of foam in the river, which has made it toxic for the skin as well as the eyes. We face difficulties in the cleaning process… The untreated sewage water released into the river has caused a rapid decline in water quality.
“On Saturday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla visited the Yamuna bank in the Kalindi Kunj area, launching a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party. He claimed that it is the “poisonous politics” of Arvind Kejriwal that has made both the water and air in the national capital hazardous. He further challenged Kejriwal and his party leaders to take a dip in the Yamuna River.
Meanwhile, a layer of fog has engulfed parts of the national capital as air pollution continues to rise. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the Anand Vihar area of Delhi dropped to 454 at 8:30 am, placing it in the ‘Severe’ category.The AQI in Dwarka, Sector 8, fell to 311 at 8:30 am, categorised as ‘Very Poor’.
At ITO in the national capital, the AQI stood at 232 at 8:30 am, classified as ‘Poor’.Jahangirpuri recorded an AQI of 350 at 8:30 am, placing it in the ‘Very Poor’ category.The AQI in Nehru Park and its surrounding areas was recorded at 254, categorised as ‘Poor’.
“The weather is cold in Delhi and pollution has increased… People should wear masks as pollution levels have risen in the national capital,” said a Delhi resident.Notably, according to the Central Pollution Control Board, an AQI in the ‘Severe’ category can affect healthy individuals and seriously impact those with pre-existing conditions. AQI in the ‘Poor’ category can cause breathing discomfort with prolonged exposure, while the ‘Very Poor’ category can lead to respiratory illnesses. (ANI)