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Tag: Air quality index

  • Delhi pollution: GRAP Stage-III restrictions revoked as air quality improves

    Delhi pollution: GRAP Stage-III restrictions revoked as air quality improves

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    The Centre’s pollution watchdog – the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) – on Monday revoked the GRAP Stage-III restrictions in Delhi and NCR. This comes on the back of improvement in the overall air quality of the Delhi-NCR in the past few days with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of the city clock at 294 on Monday.  

    While the commission revoked the restrictions under stage III, it has however said that construction sites and industrial units which have been issued specific closure orders on account of violations or non-compliances with various statutory directions under no circumstances shall resume their operations without any specific order.

    The commission today reviewed the overall air quality parameters of Delhi-NCR. It said the forecast by the central weather agency is not indicating any steep degradation in the overall air quality of Delhi-NCR in the next few days with AQI likely to stay in the ‘Poor’ category. Therefore, it is advisable to relax the restrictions and further roll back Stage III of the GRAP with immediate effect in the entire NCR, it said.

    GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) is an emergency response action plan invoked with a view to curb the further deterioration of adverse air quality scenarios in Delhi and NCR.

    The Ministry of Environment said that the overall AQI of Delhi has been progressively improving from the levels of 346 (‘very poor’) recorded on 11 November to 294 (‘poor’) clocked on 14th November 2022, which is about 100 AQI points below the threshold for invoking the GRAP Stage III actions.

    Actions under Stage-I to Stage-II of the action plan shall, however, remain invoked and be implemented, monitored, and reviewed by all agencies concerned in the entire NCR to ensure that the AQI levels do not slip further to the ‘severe’ category, the ministry said. It also suggested some measures – under Stages I and II of GRAP – to be taken by all implementing agencies.

    Mechanical, vacuum-based sweeping of roads to be carried out on a daily basis.

    Ensure water sprinkling along with the use of dust suppressants regularly on roads to arrest road dust, especially at hotspots, heavy traffic corridors, vulnerable areas (before peak hours) and proper disposal of dust collected in designated sites/landfills.

    Regular inspection and strict enforcement of dust control measures at Construction and Demolition (C&D) sites and enforcement of direction on the use of Ani-Smog guns.

    Do not allow coal, and firewood including in Tandoors in Hotels, Restaurants, and open eateries.
    Ensure hotels, restaurants and open eateries use only electricity and clean fuel gas-based appliances. 

    Also read: Delhi govt lifts ban on BS-4 diesel, BS-3 petrol vehicles from today; check details here

    Also read: Winter is coming. And so is air pollution. How can you save yourself? Here are some options

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  • Centre’s pollution watchdog lifts GRAP stage IV restrictions in Delhi-NCR amid improved AQI

    Centre’s pollution watchdog lifts GRAP stage IV restrictions in Delhi-NCR amid improved AQI

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    Amid worsening air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) area, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Sunday revived the restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) stage IV. CAQM, in its latest order, said that ban on plying of non-BS VI diesel-run light motor vehicles in Delhi-NCR, entry of trucks into national capital is now revoked.

    CAQM order reads: “In wake of the Delhi AQI nearing the ‘Severe +’ Category (AQI >450), the GRAP Stage-IV actions were invoked on 03.11.2022 based on the AQI forecasts. The forecasts also indicated a significant improvement around 5th – 6th November, 2022, therefore, the sub-Committee while invoking Stage-IV of the GRAP, decided for a review of the situation on 6th November, 2022.”

    The CAQM sub-Committee had decided to revoke the order, issued on November 3, 2022, for actions under GRAP Stage-IV with immediate effect. It further added that actions under GRAP Stages-I to Stage-III will still remain in action and be implemented, monitored and reviewed by all agencies concerned in the NCR area. This is to ensure that the AQI levels do not slip further to the ‘Severe’/ ‘Severe +’ category.

    The GRAP is a set of anti-air pollution measures followed in Delhi. It classifies the air quality in the Delhi-NCR under four stages: Stage I – ‘Poor’ (AQI 201-300); Stage II – ‘Very Poor’ (AQI 301-400); Stage III – ‘Severe’ (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV – ‘Severe Plus’ (AQI >450).

    The GRAP Stage IV’s primary focus is on vehicle restrictions, including entry of commercial trucks into Delhi, diesel commercial vehicles for intra-Delhi movements, non-BS VI passenger vans, and LMVs (Light Motor Vehicles) in Delhi.

    Here are the measures prescribed under GRAP stage IV, which are now no longer in effect:

    • Stop entry of truck traffic into Delhi (except for trucks carrying essential commodities/ providing essential services and all CNG / electric trucks).
    • Ban on plying of Delhi registered diesel operated Medium Goods Vehicles (MGV) and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) in Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities/ providing essential services.
    • Ban on plying of 4-wheeler diesel LMVs in NCT of Delhi and Districts of NCR bordering Delhi, except BS-VI vehicles and vehicles used for essential / emergency services.
    • Close down all industries in NCR, even in areas that don’t have PNG infrastructure and supply but still running on fuels, other than the fuels as per the Standard list of approved fuels for NCR.
    • Ban C&D activities in linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, over bridges, power transmission, pipelines, etc.
    • NCR State Governments / GNCTD to decide on allowing the public, municipal and private offices to work on 50 per cent strength and the rest to work from home.
    • Central Government may decide on permitting work from home for central government offices.
    • State Governments may consider additional emergency measures like the closure of schools/ colleges/ educational institutions, closure of non-emergency commercial activities and plying of vehicles on an odd-even basis etc.

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  • Delhi air pollution: Residents struggle to breathe as AQI remains severe for third day in a row

    Delhi air pollution: Residents struggle to breathe as AQI remains severe for third day in a row

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    Delhi residents are struggling to breathe as the air quality in the national capital region was in the ‘severe’ category for the consecutive third day. According to the Central Pollution Control Board data, Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 408 at 9.30 am.

    Every year, Delhi residents struggle with choking air around October and November owing to the rise in air pollution. On Saturday morning, the air quality was severe in Delhi-NCR. Noida’s AQI was 529, Gurugram’s jumped to 478, and near Dhirpur’s it was 534, according to news agency ANI.

    On Friday, the Aam Aadmi Party government declared that primary schools will remain shut from Saturday and 50 per cent of its staff will work from home.

    In addition to this, the Delhi government has also imposed the final stage of the Graded Response Action Plan. The plying of four-wheeled diesel light motor vehicles in the city and adjoining areas and the entry of trucks into the national capital region have been banned as part of anti-pollution measures under the final stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

    A recent survey conducted by LocalCircles stated that in every five families in the national capital region, one or more family members suffer from some pollution-related ailment or the other.

    The survey also highlighted that the residents of Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad reported that their family members were ailing due to pollution, and reported symptoms like sore throat, cough, congestion in chest, blocked nose and burning eyes. Such cases have gone up by 70 per cent to 80 per cent in the last five days.

    As per experts, senior citizens, who have weak lungs, are vulnerable to this severe air quality. Even children are also more susceptible due to fine PM2.5 particles that penetrate deep into lung passageways which affected people can’t breathe.

    Blame game on harvest burning

    As per the LocalCircles survey, Delhi residents said that air quality has been bad since Diwali, but in recent days it has risen alarmingly due to stubble burning post-harvest in Punjab.

    On 4 November, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann by his side, said: “We (AAP) have our government in Punjab and we are responsible if ‘parali’ is being burnt there. Farmers are not responsible for it.”

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  • Delhi-NCR’s air quality turns severe: Govt’s 8-point action plan to curb pollution explained

    Delhi-NCR’s air quality turns severe: Govt’s 8-point action plan to curb pollution explained

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    Amid worsening air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) area, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Thursday implemented a new set of restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) stage IV.

    Delhi’s air quality has deteriorated further and the prediction is that it is likely to remain in the ‘severe’ category till Saturday.

    The GRAP is a set of anti-air pollution measures followed in Delhi. It classifies the air quality in the Delhi-NCR under four stages: Stage I – ‘Poor’ (AQI 201-300); Stage II – ‘Very Poor’ (AQI 301-400); Stage III – ‘Severe’ (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV – ‘Severe Plus’ (AQI >450).

    The GRAP Stage IV’s primary focus remains on vehicle restrictions, including entry of commercial trucks into Delhi, diesel commercial vehicles for intra-Delhi movements, non-BS VI passenger vans, and LMVs (Light Motor Vehicles) in Delhi.

    In addition to this, various agencies responsible for implementing measures under GRAP and Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of NCR and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) have also been advised to ensure strict implementation of actions of Stage IV under GRAP during this period.

    Furthermore, the commission has also appealed to children, the elderly, and those with respiratory, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, or other chronic diseases to avoid outdoor activities and stay indoors, as much as possible.

    Here are the measures prescribed under GRAP stage IV:

    • Stop entry of truck traffic into Delhi (except for trucks carrying essential commodities/ providing essential services and all CNG / electric trucks).
    • Ban on plying of Delhi registered diesel operated Medium Goods Vehicles (MGV) and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) in Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities/ providing essential services.
    • Ban on plying of 4-wheeler diesel LMVs in NCT of Delhi and Districts of NCR bordering Delhi, except BS-VI vehicles and vehicles used for essential / emergency services.
    • Close down all industries in NCR, even in areas that don’t have PNG infrastructure and supply but still running on fuels, other than the fuels as per the Standard list of approved fuels for NCR.
    • Ban C&D activities in linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, over bridges, power transmission, pipelines, etc.
    • NCR State Governments / GNCTD to decide on allowing the public, municipal and private offices to work on 50 per cent strength and the rest to work from home.
    • Central Government may decide on permitting work from home for central government offices.
    • State Governments may consider additional emergency measures like the closure of schools/ colleges/ educational institutions, closure of non-emergency commercial activities and plying of vehicles on an odd-even basis etc.

    However, industries like milk and dairy units and those involved in manufacturing life-saving medical equipment/ devices, drugs and medicines shall be exempted from the above restrictions.

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  • Spike in Delhi pollution: Air Quality Index as high as 551 in some parts

    Spike in Delhi pollution: Air Quality Index as high as 551 in some parts

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    The air quality at Delhi-NCR continued its downward spiral on Tuesday morning, recording the Air Quality Index (AQI) as high as 594 in Dhirpur, Delhi, which is in severe category. Noida, UP also recorded 444 AQI in the ‘Severe’ category and Gurugram, Haryana saw air quality dip to ‘Very Poor’ category. Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) this morning was at 385 in the very poor category leading Delhi government to ban all construction and demolition activities taking place in the national capital. 

    It was already anticipated that the National Capital’s air quality would worsen in the coming days because of the calmer winds and other different meteorological conditions. In a news conference on Sunday, Gopal Rai, Delhi’s environment minister, said, “Experts are predicting that wind speed will fall from November 1 and its direction will change. Based on that, it is predicted that the AQI would go beyond 400 into the severe category.”

    He further said that the pollution levels usually spike in the Delhi-NCR region around this time primarily because of dust, bio-mass burning and vehicular emissions, changes in the meteorological situation and air movement.

    “586 teams had been formed to monitor construction works, and that exemptions would be given to hospitals, railways, airports and other such public activities. 521 machines would sprinkle water across the city to settle dust while nearly 233 anti-smog guns would be deployed,” informed Rai.

    An AQI between zero and 50 is considered to be ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’ according to the government organisation.

    Also Read: Construction activities banned in Delhi-NCR area amid worsening pollution levels

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