Delhi Pollution News: The Centre's pollution control body stopped non-essential construction works in Delhi-NCR on Thursday as pollution levels in the national capital approached the'severe' category, according to an official order, news agency ANI reported. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued orders prohibiting diesel-powered trucks from entering the national capital.
This measure is part of Stage III of the GRAP, which is the Centre's air pollution management strategy that is executed throughout the region during the winter season. At 5 p.m., Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) was 402.
"In view of the increasing pollution level in Delhi, Environment Minister Gopal Rai has called a meeting of all concerned departments tomorrow. Strict implementation of GRAP-3 will be discussed in the meeting," said Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai.
The CAQM, a statutory agency responsible for formulating measures to tackle pollution in the region, stated during a meeting to examine the air quality situation in Delhi-NCR that pollution levels are only "expected to increase further" due to poor meteorological and climatic circumstances.
GRAP divides acts into four stages: 'Poor' (AQI 201-300), 'Very Poor' (AQI 301-400), 'Severe' (AQI 401-450), and 'Severe Plus' (AQI >450).
GRAP Stage III requires a total halt to all building and demolition operations, with the exception of critical government projects, mining, and stone crushing.
It also prohibits the admission of light commercial vehicles registered outside of Delhi, as well as diesel-powered trucks, medium and heavy freight vehicles (excluding those participating in critical activities).