New delhi: The air quality index in India’s capital Delhi remained dangerously high on Thursday, as local residents called for the government to do more to ease the capital’s severe pollution crisis. New Delhi resident Joginder Singh said the pollution problem has been going on for 10-15 years and there is no permanent solution unless the government takes a serious stand.

According to Thai News Agency, India’s weather agency, the System for Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), recorded New Delhi’s air quality index at 399 on Thursday, which is classified as “very poor.” Delhi and its surrounding districts are often shrouded in toxic smog during winters as cold, dense air traps vehicle exhaust, construction dust, and crop stubble burning, pushing India’s pollution levels to among the highest in the world.

The Delhi government has banned non-essential construction work, among other measures, to tackle rising pollution levels. India has set a target to increase forest and green cover to 33 percent of its total land area by 2030, a significant increase from the current 24 percent, as part of its efforts to reduce carbon emissions and meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change.