As the air quality of Delhi-NCR continues to worsen, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Sunday announced that the AAP Government has decided to implement the Commission for Air Quality Management’s (CAQM) order and set up 586 teams to ensure strict implementation of the ban on construction and demolition activities in the

Capital. Besides, the Government agencies also decided to use 521 water sprinklers, 233 anti-smog guns, and 150 mobile anti-smog guns to curb pollution in Delhi.

  The air quality in Delhi-NCR continued to remain in the “very poor” category on Sunday.

The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of the city stood at 350. Anand Vihar (AQI 468) was the most polluted place in the Capital. Wazirpur (412), Vivek Vihar (423) and Jahangirpuri (407) were among the monitoring stations that recorded “severe” air quality.

The share of stubble burning in Delhi PM2.5 pollution rose to 26 per cent on Sunday, the highest this year so far, amid an increase in farm fires and favourable conditions for transport of emissions to Delhi-NCR.  On Saturday, farm fires accounted for 21 per cent of the PM2.5 pollution in the national Capital.

Addressing a press conference, Rai announced that the Government has set up 586 teams to ensure strict implementation of the ban on construction and demolition activities in the Capital. These teams will monitor the implementation of the ban on construction and demolition activities.

Besides, 120 enforcement teams of the Delhi Government’s transport department and the city police will implement restriction on plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheeler in the national Capital if such curbs are imposed.

“According to weather experts, the wind speed will be 4-5 kmph from November 1 and it is predicted that the AQI might cross 400 (severe). We had a meeting with all construction authorities - PWD, MCD, Railways, DDA and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee- on Sunday, and decided to implement the stage three of the Graded Response Plan Action,” Rai said. Earlier, he held a high level meeting with officials to discuss the the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) order, implementing the stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

Rai also blamed the vehicular emissions from Government buses operating in Uttar Pradesh for the rise in pollution at Anand Vihar and Vivek Vihar areas in Delhi. Rai also said Anand Vihar and Vivek Vihar have been reporting high pollution levels continuously which could be due to construction work related to Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) and emission from the Government buses coming from neighbouring State.

“Diesel-run buses have an important role in high pollution levels at the Delhi-UP border. We request the UP Government to run CNG buses in the NCR districts at least. This will help bring down air pollution,” he said. He requested the Uttar Pradesh Government to use CNG buses in the national Capital region, saying diesel-run buses have a big role in high pollution levels at the Delhi-UP border.

Rai said the Government will also deploy fire tenders to sprinkle water at pollution hotspots. “We have directed the user agency to strictly follow the dust pollution control norms. The Government has deployed 15 anti-smog guns in those areas in addition to seven water sprinklers of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi,” he said.

Under stage III, the CAQM have been asked to enforce a strict ban on construction and demolition activities in the NCR, except for essential projects and non-polluting activities such as plumbing, carpentry, interior decoration and electrical works.

The ban on construction and demolition activities covers earthwork for excavation, boring and drilling; fabrication and welding operations; loading and unloading of construction material; transfer of raw material, including fly ash, either manually or through conveyor belts and vehicular movement on unpaved roads. It also bans the operation of batching plants; laying of sewer lines, waterline, drainage work and electric cabling through open trench system; cutting and fixing of tiles, stones and other flooring materials; grinding activities; piling work; water proofing work; road construction and repair works, including paving of sidewalks, pathways and central verges among others.  Brick kilns, hot mix plants and stone crushers not operating on clean fuels, and mining and associated activities in the NCR have also been banned.