Paris air pollution worst in a decade; is the French capital still visible from above?

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Air pollution in Paris is touching danger levels for breathing and vision clarity this winter and the city is struggling to control emission of further smokes, heat, and fumes in the air.

Apart from the French capital, Lyon and Rhone Valley both face the same trouble as the pollution has hit many regions all across France.

Public transport is offered for free since past three days in the capital and half of the private vehicles in the city are banned from traveling! On Wednesday odd-numbered and Thursday even-numbered plate vehicles were allowed, but most of the drivers did not comply, according to Business Insider.

A fine from $22 to $80 is imposed on drivers who did not comply. At this, police issued approximately 1,700 fines in one day.

The confusion rose in the transport service, and the local politicians started squabbling. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo posted a hazy picture of Paris on Twitter in which the Eifel Tower is barely visible. She is pledging to ban diesel running vehicles in the capital by 2025, Washington Post has reported.

 The public transport is offered free to decrease the traffic crowd on the roads and eventually fumes emission in the air. The local news report that Paris city is spending $4.3 million a day on this free offer!

In the past 20 years, Paris has imposed ban and restrictions on traffic three times, the recent being the fourth to tackle the dangerous pollution levels.

The rise in the air pollution is due to the fumes emitted from power plants, wood fire, traffic, etc. The emissions are not able to escape higher in the atmosphere because of high pressure and low winds.

The residents are asked not lit wood fire and travel through public transport only. City authorities have made Autolib electric cars, metro, bus service and Paris' Velib bike-share free of cost.

The maximum speed of cars on main thoroughfares is also reduced, and commuters are encouraged to share their vehicles with friends and acquaintances.