Delhi Pollution HIGHLIGHTS: GRAP Stage 4 Invoked, Work-From-Home For 50% Staff In Govt, Private Offices
Delhi Air Pollution News HIGHLIGHTS: Hello and welcome to ABP Live Delhi Pollution Live Blog. Follow this space for all the latest developments on Delhi pollution.
Background
Delhi Pollution News HIGHLIGHTS: Hello and welcome to ABP Live Delhi Pollution Live Blog. Follow this space for all the latest developments on Delhi pollution.
Delhi-NCR's air quality neared the emergency threshold on Thursday, prompting an immediate ban on non-essential construction work and the closure of primary schools in the capital, as authorities acted swiftly to address the health-threatening pollution.
As a dense and pungent haze blanketed the skyline of Delhi-NCR, the concentration of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can penetrate deep into the respiratory system and trigger health problems, exceeded the safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic metre by a seven to eightfold at multiple locations throughout the region.
Alarmed by the spike in air pollution levels, the Centre's pollution control panel ordered an immediate ban on non-essential construction work, stone crushing and mining in the region. Restrictions have also been imposed on plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that all government and private primary schools in the city will remain closed for the next two days in view of rising pollution levels. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has called an emergency meeting on Friday to review the situation.
The Centre's action comes as part of Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) -- the Centre's air pollution control plan which is implemented in the region during the winter season. GRAP categorises actions into four stages: Stage I - 'poor' (AQI 201-300); Stage II - 'very poor' (AQI 301-400); Stage III - 'severe' (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV - 'severe plus' (AQI above 450).
The city's AQI plunged to 422 at 10 pm, the worst this season so far. The 24-hour average AQI was 364 on Wednesday, 359 on Tuesday, 347 on Monday, 325 on Sunday, 304 on Saturday, and 261 on Friday. Not just Delhi, several cities in neighbouring Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh also reported hazardous air.
These included Hanumangarh (438) and Sri Ganganagar (359) in Rajasthan; Hisar (414), Fatehabad (423), Jind (413), Rohtak (388), Sonepat (374), Kurukshetra (343), Karnal (343), Kaithal (379), Bhiwani (355), Faridabad (368) and Gurugram (297) in Haryana; and Ghaziabad (286), Noida (313) and Greater Noida (402) in Uttar Pradesh.
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'.
Entry Of Trucks, Construction Activity Banned As AQI Dips To ‘Severe’ Category
Entry of polluting trucks, commercial four-wheelers banned in Delhi. Only CNG, electric, BS VI vehicles from other states allowed entry: Order
Entry of polluting trucks, commercial four-wheelers banned in Delhi. Only CNG, electric, BS VI vehicles from other states allowed entry:Order
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 5, 2023
Work-From-Home Directions Issued For 50% Staff In Govt, Private Offices
Work from home directions issued for 50 per cent staff in government, private offices amid worsening air quality in Delhi: Order
Top Headlines
