The Centre today ordered a ban on non-essential construction work and movement of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi-NCR amid worsening air quality in the region.
Unfavourable meteorological conditions including fog and haze with low wind speed are the major causes for a sudden spike in Delhi's daily average air quality index (AQI), the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a statutory body responsible for formulating strategies to combat pollution in the region, said in an order.
Delhi's overall AQI is steadily rising since this morning. It stood at 397 at 10 am and 409 at 4 pm.
Re-invoking curbs under Stage-III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), the CAQM ordered a ban on non-essential construction work, stone crushing, and mining in Delhi-NCR.
Construction work related to national security or defense, projects of national importance, healthcare, railways, metro rail, airports, interstate bus terminals, highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines, sanitation, and water supply are exempted from the ban.
Under Stage-III, restrictions are also imposed on the operation of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar.
GRAP is the Centre's air pollution control plan implemented in the region during the winter season.
GRAP categorises actions into four stages: Stage I - 'Poor' (AQI 201-300); Stage II - 'Very Poor' (AQI 301-400); Stage III - 'Severe' (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV - 'Severe Plus' (AQI>450).
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
On Monday morning, at 6am, Delhi recorded 410 Air Quality Index (AQI), falling under the 'severe' category.
Delhi's air quality deteriorated on Sunday with the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching the 'severe' category at 409 at 4 pm, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed.
The Bombay High Court on Friday said pollution-free environment was a constitutional right, and pulled up the Maharashtra government and other authorities for their failure to tackle the issue of air pollution.
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While some may argue that people in Delhi are now more aware of air pollution than they were a decade back, my rebuttal would be that awareness does not mean that people are concerned.
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