Delhiites are likely to breathe more cleaner air in the next two to three days, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Thursday even as he announced that Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) III curbs would continue in the national capital, PTI reported. Rai said the air quality was expected to improve from "very poor" category in the coming days.
This week, the average AQI has remained in the 'very poor' category compared to 'severe' in the last week, when pollution spiked after Diwali due to bursting of crackers. The drop in pollution levels has come due to favourable wind speed.
"Scientists are saying that the air quality will improve in the coming 2-3 days. As per the present conditions, it was decided that GRAP III regulations will continue in Delhi for now," PTI quoted Rai as saying.
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The minister further said BS-3 petrol and BS-4 diesel vehicles would continue to be banned from plying on Delhi roads. Non-compliance with the guidelines may see car owners getting being fined Rs 20,000.
He said if air quality deteriorated in the future, GRAP IV would be invoked again, leading to a ban on the entry of trucks and construction activities. GRAP IV, which was removed by the Centre last week, is put in force before the AQI surpasses the 450 mark in Delhi.
"The state government may impose more stringent measures to curb the air pollution in the city if rules are flouted," PTI quoted the minister as saying.
On Thursday, Delhi's air quality was recorded at 373 even as the capital recorded the season's lowest minimum temperature at 9.2 degrees Celsius, PTI quoted IMD officials as saying. The sky remained clear through the day, with minimum haze. The maximum temperature hovered around 26 degrees Celsius.