New Delhi: Diversion of truck traffic not destined for Delhi through the eastern and western peripheral expressways, ban on coal/firewood in tandoors in hotels and open eateries and water sprinkling are some of the measures that kicked in on Friday as the air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) dipped to the ‘poor’ category. “As per the decision of the Sub-Committee for operationalization of GRAP, all actions as envisaged under Stage I of the GRAP – ‘POOR’ Air Quality (DELHI AQI ranging between 201-300), to be implemented in right earnest by all the agencies concerned, with immediate effect in the NCR. Various agencies responsible for implementing measures under GRAP including Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of NCR States and DPCC have been addressed to ensure strict implementation of actions of Stage-I under GRAP during this period,” said the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change in a statement on Friday.
On Friday, Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) clocked 212 as per the daily AQI Bulletin provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). “While comprehensively reviewing the air quality scenario in the region as well as the air quality forecasts made available by IMD/ IITM, it was noted that there has been a sudden dip in air quality in the last 24 hours leading to the air quality of Delhi moving into the ‘Poor’ category. While the dynamic model and weather/ meteorological forecast by IMD/ IITM predict the overall AQI of Delhi will stay in ‘Poor’ category in the next few couple of days, it is considered necessary to invoke Stage-I of GRAP with immediate effect in the entire NCR in an effort to take steps to prevent further deterioration of air quality in the region,” said the statement.
According to IARI data, Punjab recorded 91 crop residue burning events on Friday, taking the total for the state to 845 from September 15 to October 6. Haryana, on the other hand, has recorded 209 events of stubble-burning over the same period.
Under stage-I of GRAP, the government has asked people to keep PUC certificates of vehicles up to date and has also imposed dust-control measures like periodic mechanised sweeping and water sprinkling, dust-mitigation measures at construction and demolition sites, and use of anti-smog guns, ensuring pollution-control regulations in industries and emission norms in thermal power plants.
