CNN Central News & Networks / ITDC India ePress / ITDC News /Agencies/ Delhi: New Delhi: People’s difficulties have increased after air pollution levels rose sharply in Delhi-NCR. The capital’s air has reached the “very poor” category for the first time this season. In view of the pollution situation, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Monday, 2 November, implemented the second stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR with immediate effect.
According to the CAQM, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was 117 on 31 October, rising to 261 on 1 November. On Monday, it increased further to 324. The commission cited adverse meteorological conditions as the main reason. According to forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), the air may remain in the very poor category in the coming days as well.
Under GRAP-2, regular mechanical and vacuum sweeping of roads, water sprinkling and the use of dust-control materials will be intensified. Monitoring will be increased in polluted areas and at construction sites. Measures also include raising parking fees and encouraging public transport to reduce the use of private vehicles.
The use of coal- and wood-fired tandoors in hotels, restaurants and dhabas has been banned. Controls on the use of diesel generators will also be enforced, and checks on pollution standards in industrial units will be tightened. Instructions have also been issued to increase the frequency of metro, bus and other public transport services.
The administration has appealed to people to use public transport or carpooling instead of private vehicles, keep vehicle pollution certificates valid and not burn waste in the open.
Hashtags: #DelhiState #Delhi #NCR #Pollution #GRAP2 #AirQuality #DelhiNCR #CAQM #AQI #GRAP2EnforcedAcross
