A thick layer of smog has enveloped the city, worsening the air quality. As per media reports, the levels of particulate matter PM2.5 – tiny enough to clog lungs – in Delhi are far higher than the World Health Organization's safety guidelines. The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research has indicated that the Air Quality Index of Delhi continues to remain in the 'severe' category. The Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has announced that government officials can work from home until 21 November.
To think of it, Delhi has two large-scale outdoor smog towers to induct air and purify it. The air-purification system can help to an extent but doesn’t seem to mitigate the pollution levels. A ground-up concerted effort is required to address rising pollution levels like dust storms, vehicular emissions, waste burning and farm fires; a month-long campaign began on 11 November to bring things under control. Government departments...