Trucks Banned In Delhi, Schools Go Online In Noida As Air Pollution Worsens: Top Points

Delhi-NCR Pollution: The National Capital Region (NCR) is engulfed in a thick layer of smog as AQI remains to be 472 under 'Severe' category.

New Delhi: As a thick layer of haze continues to cover the National Capital Region (NCR) as it reels under 'Severe' air quality with Air Quality Index (AQI) at 472 currently.

Key Updates:

• The Centre's anti-pollution panel on Thursday banned the entry of trucks other than electric and CNG ones in the national capital and ordered closure of all industries not running on clean fuels in NCR.
  
  


• The Centre's air quality panel said BS-VI vehicles and those used for essential and emergency services are exempted from the ban on diesel-run LMVs. The panel has left it to the state government to decide on the closure of schools, non-emergency commercial activities, and odd-even scheme for vehicles.
  
  


• All schools in Noida, Greater Noida will hold classes online up to Class 8 till Nov 8 in view of increasing pollution in NCR, news agency PTI reported citing an official order.
  
  


• Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai will hold a high-level meeting on Friday to discuss the implementation of the curbs under GRAP's stage IV.
  
  


• The Union and state governments may decide on permitting work from home, the Commission for Air Quality Management stated.
  
  


• According to PTI, Delhi's 24-hour average AQI on Thursday at 4 pm stood at 450, just a notch short of the "severe plus" category. The concentration of lung-damaging fine particles known as PM2.5 was above 470 micrograms per cubic metre, around eight times the safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic metre, in many areas.
  
  


• On Thursday, the share of stubble burning in Delhi's PM2.5 pollution jumped to 34 per cent, the highest this season so far. According to experts cited by PTI, it was the reason behind a thick layer of pungent smog over the national capital. The thick layer of pungent smog lingering over the capital lowered visibility to 400 metres and 500 metres at the Safdarjung and Palam airports, respectively, and blotted out the sun partially.
  
  


• Notably, construction works in public projects such as highways, flyovers, power transmission, and pipelines in Delhi-NCR have also been banned. The CAQM had directed authorities on Saturday to impose a ban on construction and demolition activities in Delhi-NCR.

According to the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago's (EPIC) Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) released in June, people stand to lose 10 years of life expectancy due to poor air quality. An analysis conducted by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) in 2021 showed people in the capital breathe the worst air between November 1 and November 15 when stubble burning peaks.

(With Agency Inputs)