Even though the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked stage two of the anti-pollution strategy GRAP, the air quality index (AQI) remained “very poor” this morning, engulfing the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) in a thick blanket of smog.
According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research’s (SAFAR) real-time statistics, Delhi’s AQI at 8 a.m. was 354, falling into the “very poor” category. Good AQIs range from 0 to 50, satisfactory AQIs range from 51 to 100, moderate AQIs range from 101 to 200, bad AQIs range from 201 to 300, very poor AQIs range from 301 to 400, severe AQIs range from 401 to 450, and severe-plus AQIs fall above 450.
Alipur, Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Aya Nagar, Bawana, Burari, Dwarka, IGI Airport (T3), Jahangirpuri, Mundka, Narela, Okhla, Patparganj, Punjabi Bagh, Rohini, RK Puram, Rohini, Vivek Vihar, Shadipur, Sonia Vihar, and Wazirpur were among the places with “very poor” air quality.
Authorities had to implement stage two of the GRAP, or Graded Response Action Plan, on Tuesday because to the dangerous air quality that has been present in the nation’s capital for the past few days. In the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), stage two will impose limitations on the use of diesel generator sets, coal, and firewood.
Dust control measures will be enforced at construction and demolition sites, and daily mechanical sweeping and water sprinkling will be performed on designated routes.
In addition, more bus and subway services will be launched, traffic officers will be stationed during traffic jams, and parking prices will be raised to deter private transportation.
It has been suggested that people use public transit more often and drive their own cars less. Additionally, they have been asked to refrain from dust-producing building activities from October to January and to change their cars’ air filters on a regular basis at the required intervals.
Additionally, residents of Delhi-NCR have been advised not to burn biomass and solid trash outdoors. The GRAP Stage 1 measures, which have been in place since October 15, are supplemented by these actions.
In addition to dust reduction at building sites, Stage 1 involves periodic mechanised sweeping and water sprinkling on highways. Additionally, the use of coal or firewood in restaurants, the open burning of rubbish, and the restricted use of diesel generators are all prohibited.
A number of anti-pollution initiatives, including more metro trips, the deployment of over 6,000 MCD officials for road dust control, and 1,800 additional traffic personnel at bottleneck areas, were announced earlier Tuesday by Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has anticipated that, due to adverse climatic and meteorological circumstances, Delhi’s daily average AQI will remain in the “very poor” category for the foreseeable future.
Stubble burning or farm fires in neighbouring Haryana and Punjab, especially during the post-harvest season of October and November, are also often blamed for the rise in pollution levels in Delhi.
