Smog continues to choke Delhi for fourth day

Dense smog continued to engulf Delhi and the National Capital Region for the fourth day today, with visibility dropping by 600 metres in the span of three hours this morning.

According to the MeT department, the visibility was at 1,000 metres at 5.30 am, but dropped to 400 metres at 8.30 am.

The department said there was a possibility of light winds later in the day, which may clear the smog choking the national capital.

Recent environmental models have shown that the smog that has engulfed Delhi was largely caused due to the large-scale burning of crops in the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana.

The Delhi government has already announced the return of the Odd-Even policy from November 13, with the same stipulations as the last time it was implemented. Two-wheelers and women drivers are among a long list exempted from the scheme.

In addition, all schools in the national capital have been shut until Sunday, and a four-fold hike in vehicle parking fee has also been announced.

Meanwhile, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Delhi government to produce details of ambient air quality during the earlier implementations of the odd-even scheme.

The tribunal will examine at 2 PM today the decision to implement the scheme again from November 13.