Delhi Pollution: Restriction On Construction Lifted; Work From Home To Remain In Place Till Nov 26

According to Gopal Rai, if pollution levels in the national capital continue to improve, CNG trucks may be permitted to enter.

Environment Minister Gopal Rai. (File Photo)

New Delhi: The prohibition on construction and demolition operations imposed by the Delhi government has been removed. The restriction on non-essential vehicles entering the national capital, as well as work from home for the Delhi government and MCD personnel, would remain in place till November 26, according to Environment Minister Gopal Rai, who chaired a high-level discussion on the subject on Monday.

According to Gopal Rai, if pollution levels in the national capital continue to improve, CNG trucks may be permitted to enter.

In view of improvement in air quality, Delhi lifts ban on construction and demolition activities: Environment minister Gopal Rai

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 22, 2021

The next review meeting on the subject has been set for November 24, at which a decision on school reopening will also be made, Rai said.

Gopal Rai further said that pollution levels have been declining since November 4 (when they reached 600 on the AQI), due to two factors: pollution management measures and increasing wind speeds.

Construction and demolition work in the nation's capital may finally begin. Rai did warn, though, that the 14-point instructions published previously on the subject will be scrutinised with a "strict eye." The Environment Minister's 585 monitoring teams in Delhi would keep an eye on these operations, and if a breach was discovered, work would be promptly halted, with warnings and fines given. Rai explained that the decision was made to help construction workers.

Gurugram, Greater Noida, Faridabad, and Noida had air quality indexes of 318, 213, 326, and 268 correspondingly. An AQI of zero to fifty is regarded as excellent, 51 to one hundred satisfactory, 101 to two hundred moderate, 201 to 300 poor, 301 to 400 extremely poor, and 401 to 500 severe.

(With inputs from PTI)