Delhi: Air Quality Dips To 'Very Poor' Category Again, Construction Work To Remain Banned
Delhi Air Pollution: The air quality of national capital improved a few days back due to winds and rain in adjoining states.
Delhi’s air quality dipped again on Friday to the very-poor category after slight improvement over the last few days. The air quality index (AQI) went into ‘very-poor’ category at 35 out of 37 monitoring stations. The AQI stood at 382 in Jahangirpuri, 377 in Nehru Nagar and 372 each in NSIT Dwarka and Bawana. According to the data of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) worsened to reach 346 from 295 a day ago.
The Commission for Air Quality Management said restrictions under stage III of the graded response action plan (Grap) would continue to remain in place in the National Capital Region as the air pollution in the area was showing an upward trend. "Wind conditions have not been very favourable and accordingly dispersion of air pollutants has not been very effective," it said in a statement.
Under the GRAP-III restrictions, all construction and demolition work, except for essential projects, is banned in the NCR. Furthermore, brick kilns, hot mix plants and stone crushers are also not allowed to operate.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.
READ: Delhi's Air Quality Poor For 2nd Day In Row, Review Of GRAP Stage-3 Curbs Likely On Friday
There seems to be no respite for the Delhiites as a thick layer of smog continues to cover the national capital region. Last week, the air quality in the region remained in ‘severe’ category for several consecutive days. Reports say that there has also been a significant rise in the number of people reporting pollution related illness.
Recently, a study has claimed that every four out of five families in Delhi-NCR has someone with a pollution related illness. The study further revealed that the number of people reporting such issues has increased after Diwali.
Earlier, Delhi minister Gopal Rai on Monday announced lifting of certain curbs induced due to air pollution. He announced the opening of primary schools in the city along with lifting restrictions on outdoor activities. The curbs lifted include a ban on the entry of trucks and a prohibition on construction work related to highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, pipelines, and power transmission.
(With Inputs From PTI)
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