New Delhi: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has imposed a ban on all work related to construction in Delhi and adjoining areas owing to the deteriorating air quality in the National Capital Region. Delhi’s overall air quality was recorded to be in the ‘very poor’ category as the AQI stood at 350 on Sunday morning.
Delhi’s overall air quality in the ‘very poor’ category, AQI at 350 this morning; visuals from ITO and India Gate C-Hexagon pic.twitter.com/JkfpvSSwos
— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2022
According to news agency ANI, the CAQM sub-committee has implemented Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the entire NCR to prevent further worsening of air quality, after an emergency meeting on Saturday.
“Under this, all construction work will be banned except for special projects like Central Vista and other projects of national need,” read the official press release from Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas.
The sub-committee held an emergency meeting on Saturday evening after the AQI in the NCR remained in the ‘very poor’ category for the sixth consecutive day.
The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi stood at 398 at 11 am on Saturday, worsening from 357 at 4 pm on Friday. It was 354 on Thursday, 271 on Wednesday, 302 on Tuesday, and 312 on Monday (Diwali).
During the meeting, while comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality parameters, they noted that due to unfavourable meteorological conditions with slower wind speed and sudden spike in farm fire incidents, it is considered necessary to implement Stage III of GRAP with immediate effect in the entire NCR, ANI reported.
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“As per the dynamic model and weather/ meteorological forecast, the overall air quality over Delhi is likely to remain in the Very Poor to Severe category from 29.10.2022 to 30.10.2022. The air quality is likely to deteriorate and remain in a Severe category from 31.10.2022 to 01.11.2022 and for the subsequent 6 Days, the air quality is likely to fluctuate between the Severe to Very Poor category,” read the official statement from CAQM, ANI reported.
The CAQM further noted that the winds are forecasted to be CALM in the coming days and the wind direction is likely to change course frequently. Thus, there is a high likelihood of the pollutants getting trapped in the region and not getting dispersed effectively.
Further, the CAQM appealed to the citizens of NCR to cooperate in implementing GRAP and follow the steps mentioned in the Citizen Charter under GARP. Apart from that, a 9-point action plan as per Stage III of GRAP was made applicable in the entire NCR.
The 9-point action plan includes steps to be implemented/ ensured by different agencies and Pollution Control Boards of NCR and DPCC, as per the official statement, ANI reported.
(With agency inputs)