Delhi Govt Boosts Metro & Bus Services Under GRAP-II, Urges Haryana, UP, Rajasthan To Ban Entry Of Diesel Buses

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced several measures aimed at curbing pollution under GRAP-II as AQI was recorded at 317 on Tuesday

As the air quality in Delhi worsened, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 317 on Tuesday morning, the Delhi government has implemented Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). This measure comes as a thick layer of smog enveloped the national capital, pushing the city's air into the 'very poor' category, with 27 monitoring stations showing alarming levels, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Addressing a press conference, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced several measures aimed at curbing pollution under GRAP-II. He stated that an additional 1,800 traffic personnel would be deployed across 97 locations to manage congestion and reduce vehicular emissions. Furthermore, inspections at construction and demolition sites would be intensified to ensure adherence to anti-pollution norms. To manage road dust, over 6,000 employees from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will be engaged in water sprinkling efforts at pollution hotspots, news agency PTI reported.

Public transport will also see a boost as part of the GRAP-II measures. "The frequency of Delhi Metro and Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses will be increased to encourage people to use public transport," Rai told news agency ANI. He added, "Now that AQI has crossed 300, GRAP-II rules have been implemented in the entire North India from today... Diesel generators will be regulated. The aim is to further reduce dust and vehicular pollution."

Additionally, Rai highlighted that the Delhi government is taking steps to address external sources of pollution. He shared plans to write to the transport ministers of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, requesting that these states temporarily stop sending diesel buses to Delhi. "Today, we are writing to the transport ministers of these states, requesting that until the pollution levels in Delhi improve, they should refrain from sending diesel buses and instead send CNG and electric buses, so we can work together to reduce pollution," Rai told news agency IANS.

Rai also announced the formation of a coordination committee that will monitor pollution hotspots daily under the supervision of the District Commissioner (DC). This committee is tasked with ensuring the implementation of action plans in affected areas. "Although electricity is being supplied 24 hours, the department has been directed to monitor and ensure that there are no or less power cuts," he added.

Delhi Pollution: Gopal Rai Urges Haryana, UP, Rajasthan To Ban Diesel Buses From Entering Capital

The Delhi Environment Minister also wrote to the transport ministers of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, requesting them to ban the entry of diesel buses from these states into the national capital.

"The impact of diesel emissions on air quality is well established, and the large influx of such buses significantly contribute to the degradation of air quality in Delhi, posing serious health risks to the residents. Diesel buses emit a considerable amount of harmful pollutants responsible for respiratory diseases and other health issues. Delhi is already grappling with poor air quality, and this additional burden from interstate traffic is aggravating the situation," Gopal Rai stated in a letter to Rajasthan.

"In light of this, I kindly request your esteemed Office to consider restricting the entry of diesel buses from Rajasthan entering Delhi or implementing stricter regulations to control their emission norms. Together we can work out implementing more effective solutions like transition to CNG or Electric Buses for interstate transport along with strictly enforcing vehicle pollution norms," he added.

As part of the GRAP-II measures, a ban on the use of coal and firewood, including tandoors in hotels and restaurants, has been enforced. Diesel generator sets are also restricted, except for emergency services.

The deteriorating air quality is attributed to changing weather conditions, which have heightened pollution levels across North India. Rai remarked, "Pollution is increasing with the changing weather conditions across North India. GRAP is implemented to control pollution, and now, the second stage of GRAP has been enforced in Delhi."

Meanwhile, Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 20.4 degrees Celsius, two degrees above the usual, with humidity at 93 percent, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The weather office has predicted clear skies for the day, with the maximum temperature expected to reach around 35 degrees Celsius.

An AQI between zero and 50 is classified as 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor', and 401-500 'severe'. With Delhi's AQI currently in the 'very poor' range, the city faces significant challenges in managing air quality during this period of seasonal transition.