Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday held an emergency meeting to discuss the city’s severe air pollution and announced a slew of measures, including shutting schools and stopping construction for a few days, to tackle the menace.
“All demolition and construction work will be banned in Delhi for next five days. Except for hospitals and emergency places, no diesel generator sets will be used in Delhi for next 10 days,” CM Kejriwal announced.
“The base level of pollution was already very high. We have consulted experts and we are taking some emergency measures,” the Aam Aadmi Party leader added.
The Badarpur Plant will remain shut for next 10 days whereas transportation of fly ashes will also remain shut for next 10 days.
Kejriwal also stated that the Odd-Even road rationing scheme will return to keep traffic emissions in check, adding that the possibility of artificial rain was also discussed in the meeting, but it would need Centre’s help in that.
Even as he announced a number of steps the government is taking to deal with the worsening air quality of Delhi, Kejriwal urged the capital’s residents to stay indoors as much as possible.
Popular websites and chemists have either run out of masks or are loaded with orders for masks and air purifiers even as air quality in the national capital has plunged to hazardous levels since the start of Diwali celebrations.
The owner of a shop selling masks told that the rise in sell of masks has gone up post Diwali.”The people are very careful about their health and they want to protect themselves from the pollution. The children and the old especially have to take care of themselves. It is very much essential as well,” he added.
The makers of air purifier are also witnessing a sudden surge in the sales after Diwali as particulate matter levels have crossed far beyond desired limits.
Shapoorji Pallonji Group firm Eureka Forbes, which is the segment leader with an over 40 per cent market share, admitted that sales have shot up sharply.
“Sales have increased multi-fold but since this is a closed but competitive category, sales numbers cannot be divulged,” Eureka Forbes CEO Marzin R Shroff said.
Expressing similar views, Kent RO Systems chairman Mahesh Gupta said consumers have been affected by the rising air pollution and sales have jumped as people want to get relief from it.
“There has been a sudden surge post Diwali in sales of Air Purifiers. We have sold about 100 pieces in last 2 days. We are hopeful that this demand will increase in near future,” Mr Gupta said.
