Smog covers Gangetic Plain

Does anyone remember the yellow smog of the fifties and early sixties? 

That is what Delhi is like now and the pollution has affected the whole plain from east to west.

This is the 3rd morning of thick fog which doesn't lift till nearly midday. We've read about the pollution problem caused by temperature inversion and thousands of standby diesel generators plus diesel mobile phone masts, not to mention traffic and wood burning fires.

It really is a major problem because North India is cold and without heat people will die. The government is giving a subsidised cash payment towards 12 gas cylinders per year per family, in Delhi and Mumbai, for cleaner cooking. On the open market a 14 kg cylinder costs £10 but now it can be bought for £6. ...as long as you have a bank account. The scheme is to prevent black market hikes in price. 

Today's birding in the park was foggy and miserable this morning. These guys agree....

I wasn't so well disposed towards the monkeys when a male came straight up to me and grabbed my bag. It was over my head and shoulder so he didn't get it but left dirty paw marks as a reminder to be cautious. We heard that the monkeys regularly grab cameras off tourists, glance at them and then drop them in the water.

By 11:30 the sun was fighting off the fog and shortly after we enjoyed warm sunshine. 

A male Red breasted flycatcher posed, as did a grey headed canary flycatcher. 

 

Tomorrow we are off to Agra with the driver.