New Delhi: In the wake worseing air pollution, the Centre’s air quality panel implemented stage 3 of the anti-pollution plan in Delhi-NCR on Friday, news agency ANI reported.
The curbs imposed under Stage 3 of the Graded Action Response Plan (GRAP) bans construction and demolition activities to prevent air quality from worsening.
The Sub-Committee on GRAP, at a review meeting on Friday, noted that the Air Quality Index (AQI) is likely to slip into the severe category due to calm winds and stable atmospheric conditions.
The panel directed the authorities in Delhi-NCR to invoke curbs under stage 3 of the anti-pollution plan with immediate effect.
According to GRAP, if the AQI is projected to reach the severe category, restrictive actions under Stage III are to be invoked at least three days in advance.
Curbs under Stage 3 include a ban on non-essential construction and demolition, closure of all stone crushers and mining activities in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR).
In the meeting, the committee reviewed the air quality of the region and also the forecasts by the meteorological department.
The curbs also impose a ban on industrial operations which are not running on fuels.
As per the panel, the state governments may also impose restrictions on old petrol and diesel vehicles.
Notably, earlier last week, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had reviewed the progress of the 'Real-time Source Apportionment Project' and said identification of sources of air pollution on a real-time basis has now begun in the national capital.
The project, that was approved by the Cabinet in October 2021 and set up in November 2022, has been undertaken by Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) in collaboration with Indian Institute of Kanpur (IIT-K), Indian Institute of Delhi (IIT-D) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).