Dust storm may bring haze and spoil air in Delhi

NEW DELHI: A dust storm could be soon headed towards North India. According to Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA), European forecasters show an anti-cyclonic circulation which is currently over Lakshadweep, to move across Iran and Pakistan and enter the northern part of India between October 10 and October 14. The storm is supposed to carry haze of dust with it which can absorb the capital’s air and bring down Delhi’s air quality to very poor or dangerous level.

After the observations, EPCA has informed the Ministry of Environment and Forest & Climate Change. The body said a meeting is likely to be held on October 5 with scientists from the ministry to investigate the impact. Sunita Narain, a member of EPCA and director general at CSE said, “Precautionary measures can be taken once we know the extent of the dust storm and how it could impact north India and Delhi in particular. Once we get clarity from the ministry, EPCA can also take certain precautionary measures on its own.”