India’s capital introduces stricter anti pollution measures as toxic smog hides Taj Mahal | Reuters
India’s capital introduces stricter anti-pollution measures as toxic smog hides Taj Mahal
UN warns 11 million children in Pakistan face toxic air dangers
Over the past week a thick layer of smog has covered the entire Northwestern half of India and the Southwestern part of Pakistan. The smog comes as a result of “Stubble Burning”, a practice where Indian rice farmers burn the remaining rice plants above the waterline in order to clear for next years harvest. Stubble Burning has been a common practice for centuries however it is by now considered outdated. The massive smoke clouds produced by this years harvest, combined with increased car and coal emissions have created an incredibly dangerous crisis that threatens the regions over 11 Million children, as well as flights into and out of the region. According to the Pakistani Government, roughly 12% of all deaths of children were due to air pollution related issues, as well as the schools having been closed recently due to the smog. Over 88% of the departing flights, and 54% of the arriving flights have been canceled or delayed due to the smog. The Indian government has not turned a blind eye to this crisis. Delhi’s Chief Minister Atishi announced a ban on non-essential construction and an appeal to citizens to use more public transport and avoid using coal and wood for heating.
This air pollution crisis isn’t a new event. India has been aware of the increasingly dangerous levels of pollution in the past 20 years. This event seems to just be a much needed wakeup call needed for India and their government