After banning diesel buses from neighbouring states, the Delhi government may ban construction work in areas recording an air quality index (AQI) above the 400 mark for five consecutive days. Presently, around dozen of areas have recorded the air quality index (AQI) over 400 which include Anand Vihar (423), Mundka (430), Rohini (405), Nehru Nagar (403), Wazirpur (422), Bawana (404) Sonia Vihar (413) Shadipur (413) on Wednesday. The average AQI was stood at 372, the highest so far this season. Data showed that the city’s transport sector and emissions from other parts of the NCR have contributed the most to PM 2.5 levels. The concentration of PM2.5 -- fine particulate matter which can penetrate deep into the respiratory system when inhaled and trigger respiratory problems -- at these places was six to seven times the safe limit of 60 microgrammes per cubic metre. According to experts, Delhi’s Air is noxious and dangerous especially for the people with respiratory ailments.
A layer of haze hung over Delhi and its surrounding areas on Wednesday, with the capital's air quality slipping deeper into the 'very poor' category primarily due to a dip in temperature and calm winds during the night. The AQI was 280 in neighbouring Ghaziabad, 318 in Faridabad, 254 in Gurugram, 333 in Noida and 372 in Greater Noida. Delhi's air quality is expected to remain 'very poor' for a few more days, according to the Centre's Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi.
Environment Minister Gopal Rai chaired a review meeting at the Delhi Secretariat on Wednesday on the rising pollution level and implementation of Graded Response Action Plan-II.Taking account of the poor air quality situation of the national capital, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that the next 15-20 days from November 1 onwards would be critical in the context of the air quality index. Rai said the Delhi government will ban construction work in areas recording an air quality index (AQI) above the 400 mark for five consecutive days. “A decision was taken to stop construction work within a one-kilometer radius in hot spots where the AQI level continuously remains close to 400, he said. "The entry of diesel buses into Delhi has been stopped from today as per the directions by CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management). 18 teams have been formed for this...It is my request to the state governments to ply only CNG, Electric or BS-VI buses from their depots so that passengers do not face any trouble," the Delhi environment minister said.
Rai stated that instructions have been given to closely monitor the hotspots. If the AQI level remains above 400 on hotspots continues for the next one week then all construction work within a kilometer area of that hotspot can be directed to be stopped.
The government has already banned diesel buses and allowed only electric, CNG and BS VI-compliant diesel buses to operate between Delhi and the cities and towns of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan falling within the NCR from Wednesday.
According to a numerical model-based system developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune, vehicular emissions (11 per cent to 16 per cent) and stubble burning (seven per cent to 16 per cent) currently stand as the two major contributors to the city's air quality. The IITM's Decision Support System (DSS) also showed that pollution sources in Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, are responsible for up to 14 per cent of the air pollution in the capital.