Delhi’s air quality worsened on Friday and remained in the ‘very poor’ category, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) to announce a ban on construction and demolition activities across the National Capital Region, along with other emergency measures.
The pollution watchdog prohibited the plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar. Schools will shift to hybrid mode (both online and classroom teaching) for up to Class 5 in these districts. While the city’s overall air quality index (AQI) stood at 354 in the on Friday evening, several stations, including Anand Vihar, Vivek Vihar and Pusa, recorded ‘severe’ (401-450) levels.
The restrictions fall under Stage-III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Measures under Stages I and II will continue. “Keeping in view the prevailing trend of air quality, and in an effort to prevent further deterioration, the sub-committee has decided to invoke all actions under Stage-III with immediate effect across the NCR,” stated a CAQM release. The curbs will take effect once State governments issue implementation orders.
Major PM2.5 reduction
