Delhi Air Pollution: After CAQM Lifts Restrictions Imposed, Gopal Rai Calls Meeting On Monday

The meeting is likely to make a decision on reopening primary schools and repealing the directive mandating 50 percent of government employees to work from home.

Officials stated on Sunday that Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai will host a high-level meeting on Monday to review the latest orders issued by the Centre's air quality body regarding reversing limitations imposed under the final stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), news agency PTI reported. 

As the air pollution in the capital ameliorated marginally to the lower end of the "very poor" category on Sunday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), directed authorities to lift the curbs.

A decision on reopening primary schools and rescinding the order requiring 50 percent of government employees to work from home is expected to be made at the meeting, according to an official, news agency PTI reported. 

The Centre's air quality panel instructed authorities on Sunday to suspend the ban on non-BS VI diesel-powered light motor vehicles and truck entrance into the city imposed under the last stage of the Graded Response Action Plan.

The restrictions went into effect three days ago.

As Delhi's air quality index soared to 450, just a notch short of the "severe plus" category, the Commission of Air Quality Management directed authorities on Thursday to prohibit the use of non-BS VI diesel light motor vehicles in the city and adjoining NCR districts, as well as the entry of trucks into the national capital, as part of GRAP stage IV anti-pollution measures.

Due to the high levels of pollution, the Delhi government announced additional measures on Friday, including the closure of primary schools from Saturday and work from home for 50 percent of its employees.

The decision regarding revoking the work-from-home order and reopening primary schools has to be taken by the Delhi government.

The national capital's overall air quality on Sunday was rated "very poor," while the lowest temperature was 17.5 degrees Celsius, three degrees more than the season's normal. According to statistics from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 1.10 p.m. was 341.

(With Inputs From PTI)