New Delhi, Nov. 2 -- The Congress on Monday took a swipe at the Modi government after Delhi's air quality slipped into the 'very poor' category for the first time this season, saying PM2.5 is choking the nation's capital and the "PM 3.0 government" needs to take this more seriously than it has so far.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the National Clean Air Programme focuses heavily on PM10, but it is the finer particulate matter PM2.5 that is the real killer as far as public health is concerned. "PM 2.5 is choking the nation's capital and other parts of north India especially," Ramesh said on X. For quite some time, it has been abundantly clear that PM2.5 safety standards-that is for Particulate Matter of size 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter--are four times the WHO safety levels (24-hour average) and eight times when taken as an annual average, he said. "The National Clean Air Programme focusses heavily on PM10 but it is the finer particulate matter PM2.5 that is the real killer as far as public health is concerned. The PM2.5 standards need to be revised urgently and enforced strictly," Ramesh said.

The "so-called PM3.0 government", which is in deep trouble, needs to take this more seriously than it has so far, Ramesh added. His remarks came on a day Delhi's air quality slipped into the 'very poor' category for the first time this season on Monday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recording 312 at 9 am. According to the CPCB, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'. Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage 2 is applied in Delhi when the Air Quality Index (AQI) enters the "Very Poor" category, ranging between 301 and 400. The Sub-Committee for Operationalisation of the GRAP, ie, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), decides to invoke Stage 2 based on dynamic air quality and meteorological forecasts, including strict measures to curb air pollution.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.