New Delhi : Delhi's air quality remained in the 'very poor' category on Saturday (November 07) morning, with the city's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) at 366, according to Central Pollution Control Board data. Twenty-two of the 59 monitoring stations reported 'severe' air (401-500) at 7.30 am, led by IIT Delhi at 442, Punjabi Bagh at 433 and Vivek Vihar at 427, with Jahangirpuri and Rohini also above 400.
Other affected areas included Bawana (411), DTU (408), Narela (408) and Alipur (402). Among neighbouring NCR cities, Noida recorded an AQI of 284 and Ghaziabad 286, while Gurugram and Faridabad reported higher readings of 355 and 347, respectively.
Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been in force across Delhi-NCR since Friday, barring non-essential construction and demolition work and restricting older BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles, among other curbs. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked the measures after the capital's average AQI crossed 380 on Friday.
The Air Quality Early Warning System has forecast 'severe' air from Saturday to Monday, with levels likely to fluctuate between 'severe' and 'very poor' over the next six days. The measures include a ban on non-essential construction and demolition work, restrictions on older BS-III and BS-IV diesel vehicles, the closure of stone crushers and the suspension of mining activities.
Additional measures include increased mechanical road sweeping and water sprinkling to reduce dust, restrictions on the entry of non-essential medium and heavy diesel goods vehicles into Delhi, and curbs on inter-state diesel buses, except those complying with BS-VI or cleaner fuel standards.With Diwali falling on Sunday, firecrackers are expected to add to the pollution load.
The Supreme Court on Friday termed vehicular emissions a major contributor to the crisis, questioning why the AQI continues to touch 400 despite regulatory measures. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant flagged 'bumper-to-bumper' traffic on roads linking Delhi with Ghaziabad, Greater Noida, Gurugram and Faridabad, and said the capital was 'virtually free for all' on vehicle entry. The Centre told the court that stubble burning accounted for about 14 per cent of Delhi's pollution on November 5, and the court said it would call for compliance reports.
(With inputs from PTI and media reports)