Delhi Pollution: Health Emergency Declared In NCR; EPCA Bans Crackers, Construction

As the pollution levels in the region entered the "severe plus" category", the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority also banned the bursting of crackers during the winter season.

New Delhi: Women are seen wearing masks to get protection from air-pollution, in New Delhi, Friday, Nov. 1, 2019. ( PTI Photo/Manvender Vashist) (PTI11_1_2019_000074B)

New Delhi:  A public health emergency was declared in Delhi-NCR by the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, after air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR crossed "hazardous" category, on Friday. The EPCA stated that the air quality in Delhi NCR is now at Severe+ level and it has become "hazardous" and will have adverse health impacts on all particularly the children.

It prohibited construction activities in Delhi NCR till morning of November 5, 2019 and also imposed a complete ban on cracker burning for the entire winter period.

In a letter to chief secretaries of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, EPCA Chairman Bhure Lal said, "The air quality in Delhi and NCR deteriorated further last night and is now at the severe plus level. We have to take this as a public heath emergency as it will have adverse health impacts on all, particularly our children." Under these circumstances, he said, construction activities, hot mix plants and stone crushers in Delhi, Faridabad, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Noida and Greater Noida will remain closed till morning of November 5. It said that the states of Punjab and Haryana must take immediate stringent actions to curb stubble burning. Biomass burning in Delhi NCR must also be strictly checked.

Delhi-NCR Gasps For Breath; Find How Clean Or Polluted Is the Air In Your City

The blanket of haze over Delhi thickened on Friday morning with the national capital's pollution levels increasing overnight. According to official data, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) on Friday was 582 at 12.30 am for Delhi-NCR. It had shot up to 504 at 3.30 am. An AQI between 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe'. Above 500 falls in the 'severe-plus emergency' category. Earlier, the EPCA had banned construction activities only for the period between 6 pm and 10 am till November 2. Now, no construction can take place even in daytime. EPCA directed that all coal and other fuel-based industries, which have not shifted to natural gas or agro-residue, will remain shut in Faridabad, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Noida, Bahadurgarh, Bhiwadi, Greater Noida, Sonepat, Panipat till the morning of November 5. In Delhi, industries, which have not yet shifted to piped natural gas, will not operate during the period, it said. (with inputs from agencies)