With Delhi’s air high quality plummeting to “extreme+” for the primary time this season, the Centre’s air high quality panel on Sunday introduced stricter air pollution management measures for the Delhi-NCR underneath Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which is able to come into impact from 8 am on Monday.
The restrictions embrace a ban on truck entry and a brief halt on development at public initiatives.
“The AQI of Delhi was recorded at 441 (Severe) at 4:00 PM at present and has been progressively growing additional and has already reached Severe+ class, as thc AQI clocked 447, 452 and 457 at 5:00 PM, 6:00 PM and seven:0O PM, respectively,” mentioned the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the Centre’s panel on Delhi-NCR air high quality.
The GRAP for Delhi-NCR is split into 4 phases of air high quality: Stage 1 for “poor” air high quality (AQI starting from 201 to 300), Stage 2 for “very poor” air high quality (AQI from 301 to 400), Stage 3 for “extreme” air high quality (AQI from 401 to 450), and Stage 4 for “extreme plus” air high quality (AQI above 450).
According to the order, no vans can be allowed into Delhi apart from these carrying important objects or utilizing clear gas.
Non-essential mild business automobiles registered exterior Delhi may also be prohibited, apart from Electric Vehicles and CNG and BS-VI diesel ones.
Delhi-registered BS-IV or older diesel medium and heavy items automobiles are banned, apart from these in important providers, the panel mentioned.
All development actions, together with highways, roads, flyovers, energy strains, pipelines and different public initiatives, have been suspended.
The CAQM steered on-line educating for the scholars of Classes 6 to 9 and Class 11.
It additionally advisable that places of work within the National Capital Region (NCR) work at 50 per cent capability, with the remainder working from house.
Work-from-home choices could also be launched for central authorities staff, the panel mentioned.
State governments may additionally resolve to shut schools, restrict non-essential business actions and implement odd-even car guidelines, it mentioned.