Delhi:

Delhi’s air quality improved slightly on Saturday morning nearly four days after the national capital reeled under toxic air pollution, however, it still remains in the ‘poor’ category. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi dropped to 230 this morning – from Friday’s reading of 270. 

According to the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS), the air quality in Delhi has improved due to a sudden change in wind direction and speed. Despite the improvement, weather experts have cautioned that the relief may be short-lived, as pollution levels are expected to rise again in the next three days, reported news agency PTI.

The air quality index is likely to touch 400 by October 31, the weather system said. 

Fearing further air quality deterioration after Diwali, the Delhi government has imposed stage two of the GRAP or the Graded Response Action Plan. Under this stage, there are restrictions on the use of coal, firewood, and diesel generator sets across Delhi-NCR. The administration will carry out mechanical sweeping and water sprinkling on roads daily, while people have been advised to use public transport and minimize the use of personal vehicles.

On Friday, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai conducted a demonstration showcasing drone-based services to identify sources of pollution in hotspot areas. He also discussed the recently released 21-point Winter Action Plan designed to tackle various pollution sources, including dust, vehicle emissions, and open burning, reported PTI.

“The Delhi government is working tirelessly day and night to combat pollution,” he said.

According to Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi, the civic body has formed 372 surveillance teams to monitor pollution. A total of 57,000 sanitation workers have been deployed for manual sweeping on the roads, while 195 water sprinklers and jetting machines have been stationed across the national capital. Thirty anti-smog guns have also been installed at polluted locations identified by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the Mayor said.

Some of the neighbouring states are witnessing a poor air quality index – Uttar Pradesh at 254 AQI, Haryana at 267 AQI, and Rajasthan at 243 AQI. 

New Delhi:

As Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘poor’ category for the second consecutive day, the Centre’s air pollution control panel for Delhi-NCR directed state governments in the region to implement the first stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

Following Dussehra and other festivities, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 281 as of 6.20 am on Tuesday, making it the seventh most polluted city in the country, after Noida and Greater Noida.

Here are the measures that are implemented under the various stages of GRAP, the first stage of which came into effect in Delhi-NCR at 8 am:

Stage 1 (AQI 201-300):

• Periodic mechanised sweeping and water sprinkling on roads.
• Dust mitigation at construction sites.
• Proper waste management.
• Strict checks on polluting vehicles, better traffic management, and emission controls in industries, power plants, and brick kilns.
• Bans on open burning of waste, limited use of diesel generators, and no use of coal or firewood in eateries. 
• Quick actions for redressal of complaints on 311 APP, Green Delhi App, SAMEER App and other such social media platforms to curb polluting activities. 
• Encourage offices to start unified commutes for employees to reduce traffic on the road.
• Advisory to celebrate festivals in an eco-friendly manner by avoiding firecrackers.

Stage 2 (AQI 301-400):

• Mechanised sweeping and water sprinkling on roads on a daily basis.
• Focussed and targeted action for abatement of air pollution in all identified hotspots.
• Uninterrupted power supply to discourage use of alternate power generating sets.
• Alert in newspapers/TV/radio to advise people about air pollution levels.
• Enhance vehicle parking fees to discourage private transport.
• Resident Welfare Associations are required to provide electric heaters to security staff.
• Augment CNG/electric bus and metro services by inducting additional fleet and increasing the frequency of service. 

Stage 3 (AQI 401-450):

• More frequent mechanised road sweeping and daily water sprinkling along with dust suppressants, before peak traffic hours, on roads and hotspots.
• Further intensify public transport services with rates to encourage off-peak travel.
• Stop mining and stone-crushing activities.
• Strict restrictions on BS lll petrol and BS lV diesel LMVS (4 wheelers), strict restrictions on Delhi-registered Diesel operated Medium Goods Vehicles (MGVS) to BS-lll standards, BS-lll and below diesel operated LCVS (goods carriers) registered outside Delhi not permitted to enter Delhi, lnter-State buses from NCR states other than EVs/CNG/BS-Vl diesel, to not enter Delhi,
• Possible discontinuing physical classes in schools for children up to Class V.
• Strict curbs on construction and demolition activities.

Stage 4 (AQI >450):

• Stop entry of truck traffic into Delhi.
• Ban on construction and demolition activites for linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines, telecommunication etc.
• Government can discontinue physical classes, including for Classes Vl – lX and Class Xl.
• Government to take a decision on allowing public, municipal and private offices to work on 50% strength and the rest to work from home.
• State governments may consider additional emergency measures like the closure of colleges/educational institutions and closure of non-emergency commercial activities, permitting the running of vehicles on the odd-even basis of registration numbers etc.
• Children, the elderly and those with respiratory, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, or other chronic diseases to avoid outdoor activities and stay indoors.