India stepped up efforts on Wednesday to combat high levels of pollution in New Delhi that threaten the lives of residents and others nearby, ordering a temporary halt to operations of five power stations and longer school closures. One of the world’s most polluted capitals, New Delhi battles chronic winter smog each year as falling temperatures trap deadly pollutants from power plants outside it, along with fumes from vehicles and garbage burnt in the open. Wednesday’s air quality index of 386 on a scale of 500 was a sign of “very poor” conditions that threaten respiratory illness on prolonged exposure, though it was off a “severe” reading of 499 earlier this month that showed even healthy people at risk. The order to temporarily shut five coal-fired power plants around New Delhi came from a panel of the federal environment ministry. There was a […]