Airquality slips into severe category in Delhi -NCR, Anti pollution measures imposed, junior schools shut

All classes for students up to Class V for all schools in Delhi-NCR are expected to switch to online mode.

Ban on BS-III petrol, BS-IV diesel vehicles from tomorrow as Stage III of GRAP imposed.

Construction, demolition, non-essential mining activities to be halted.

Delhi’s air quality remained in ‘severe’ category on Thursday, AQI at 428.

New Delhi: As the air quality slipped into the “Severe” category the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has decided to implement Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) from tomorrow.

Today, Delhi’s daily average Air Quality Index (AQI) clocked 424 as per the AQI Bulletin provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The unfavorable meteorological conditions, including dense fog condition and North-Westerly winds moving the pollutants to Delhi are the major causes for sudden spike in AQI.

According to the IMD it is very the likelihood that the AQI of Delhi will remain in the “Very Poor to Server” category in the coming days.

Under the GRAP-3 response the construction and demolition will be halted, all non-essential mining activities will be suspended, non-electric, non-CNG, and non-BS-VI diesel interstate buses will be restricted, and schools are suggested to shut till Class 5 in Delhi-NCR.
The other activities are banned as follows:
-Close down operations of stone crushers in the entire NCR.
-Close down all mining and associated activities in the entire NCR.
-NCR State Govts. / GNCTD to impose strict restrictions on plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel LMVs (4 wheelers) in Delhi and in the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.

-GNCTD to impose strict restrictions on plying of Delhi – registered Diesel operated Medium Goods Vehicles (MGVs), of BS-III standards or below, in Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities / providing essential services.

-GNCTD to not permit BS-III and below diesel operated LCVs (goods carriers) registered outside Delhi, to enter Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities / providing essential services.

Do not permit Inter-State buses from NCR states other than EVs/CNG/BS-VI diesel, to enter Delhi (excluding buses /Tempo travelers operated with All India Tourist Permit).

State Govts. in the NCR and the GNCTD may take a decision on discontinuing physical classes in schools for children up to Class V and conducting classes in an online mode.

The decision came just hours after Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that Stage III of GRAP wouldn’t be implemented in Delhi as the air quality is expected to improve in the city.

“In this winter season, the Air Quality Index has crossed 400 for the first time in the last two days in Delhi. IMD’s analysis states two reasons for the sudden rise in AQI in Delhi -First, snowfall in higher reaches in the mountains there resulted in a drop in temperature and formation of fog in Delhi,” said Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai.

Delhi’s air quality remained alarming with an average AQI of 428 in the ‘severe’ category as of 9am on Thursday.

Anand Vihar and Patparganj experienced the worst pollution levels, with AQIs of 473 and 472, respectively.

Additionally, moderate fog created challenging visibility conditions, with a recorded 300-meter visibility range at Indira Gandhi International Airport by 7:30 a.m.