New Delhi:
With dense fog enveloping Delhi and the air high quality index hovering dangerously near the ‘extreme’ class, the Centre’s anti-pollution panel, the Commission for Air Quality Management, has reimposed stricter air pollution curbs within the capital and surrounding areas, together with the National Capital Region, beneath GRAP-3 and GRAP-4.
Curbs beneath GRAP-3 have been revoked solely on Sunday and the measures beneath GRAP-4 haven’t been imposed since December 24.
In its order, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) famous that the AQI in Delhi, which was at 275 on Wednesday, rose sharply to 386 on Thursday due to dense foggy situations and low temperatures resulting in “extraordinarily low mixing peak and air flow coefficient for dispersion of pollution”.
It famous that the AQI had climbed to 396 at 6 pm and was more likely to breach the 400 mark.
“Accordingly, in an effort to forestall additional deterioration of the air high quality and in pursuance of the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s directives, the Sub Committee on GRAP hereby decides to straightway invoke ALL actions beneath Stage-III (‘Severe’ Air Quality of Delhi) & additionally Stage-IV (‘Severe+’ Air Quality of Delhi) of extant Schedule of GRAP, with instant impact in proper earnest by all of the businesses involved in Delhi-NCR, along with the Stage-I and II actions already in pressure,” the CAQM mentioned in its order.
The Supreme Court had earlier directed that GRAP Stage 3 measures should be applied if the AQI exceeds 350 and Stage 4 measures reintroduced if it crosses 400.
What’s allowed and what’s not:
- The use of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel automobiles (4-wheelers) will likely be restricted in Delhi and close by NCR districts.
- Classes in faculties, with a doable exception for college students of Classes 10 and 12, should mandatorily be shifted to hybrid mode – “each in bodily and on-line mode (wherever on-line mode is possible) within the territorial jurisdiction of the NCT of Delhi and within the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar”.
- NCR state governments/Delhi authorities will resolve whether or not to allow 50% of staff in authorities, municipal, and personal workplaces to work at home.
- The central authorities has the authority to resolve whether or not to permit its staff to work at home.
- Entry of truck site visitors into Delhi (apart from vans carrying important commodities/offering important companies) is banned. All LNG/CNG /Electric/BS-VI Diesel vans shall, nonetheless, be permitted to enter Delhi.
- Light Commercial Vehicles registered outdoors Delhi, aside from EVs/CNG/BS-VI diesel, cannot enter the capital, besides these carrying important commodities/ offering important companies.
- Delhi-registered BS-IV and under diesel-operated medium and heavy items automobiles will likely be prohibited from working, apart from these carrying important companies.
- State governments could contemplate extra emergency measures like closing faculties and different academic establishments and stopping non-emergency industrial actions, restrictions on operating of automobiles, and the odd-even rule for automobiles.
Residents of Delhi and surrounding areas woke as much as dense fog on Wednesday, main to 6 flights being diverted, greater than 300 flights being delayed and departures being briefly placed on maintain early within the morning on the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Several trains have been operating late and street site visitors additionally slowed down in Delhi and close by cities as a result of decreased visibility.
Both daytime and night-time temperatures in Delhi have additionally plummeted, contributing to the worsening AQI.