In Delhi-NCR, air pollution is once again increasing. Due to this, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has issued a new order, imposing a ban on BS-3 petrol and BS-4 diesel four-wheelers. The Air Quality Index (AQI) for Delhi-NCR falls into the 'Severe' category, with a range between 401 and 450. Currently, no specific time frame has been set for lifting this ban.
The sub-committee observed that Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) increased rapidly on December 22nd. It was 409, and the committee suggests that additional deterioration of up to 8 points is expected due to adverse weather conditions and climatic factors, as reported or estimated by IMD/IITM.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) categorizes scores from 0 to 500. Scores between 0 and 50 are classified as "Good," between 51 and 100 as "Satisfactory," between 101 and 200 as "Moderate," between 201 and 300 as "Poor," between 301 and 400 as "Very Poor," and scores from 401 to 500 are considered "Severe."
Apart from the ban on vehicles, GRAP has also ordered strict restrictions on construction and demolition activities across the entire NCR region. However, some activities have been exempted, such as railway services, airports, inter-state bus terminals, hospitals/healthcare, and metro projects. National security-related projects and activities, public projects related to cleanliness, highways, roads, flyovers, etc., also fall within the exempted category.
The Delhi government had planned to implement an odd-even rule in response to the deteriorating air quality after Diwali. However, after the Supreme Court deemed this measure as more of a symbolic gesture with limited impact on pollution levels, the plan was put on hold.
By Kuldeep
