Delhi: Increasing Air Pollution In Delhi, Ban On Commercial Diesel Trucks: Air pollution is increasing drastically in the national capital Delhi. In this background, diesel-powered commercial vehicles and trucks are banned. As the air quality index fell to 450 in the city, vehicles were banned. All vehicles carrying essential goods and electric vehicles will be allowed to ply in Delhi. Medium and large vehicles are not allowed inside the capital, except those carrying essential goods. BS-4 diesel vehicles have also been banned in the capital and surrounding areas. Exemption extended to milk, dairy, medicine, and medical goods factories. Construction of major projects like highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, and pipelines has come to a standstill.
It has asked the Center to allow 50 percent of employees in government and private offices to work from home. It asked the Delhi government to take a decision on running schools, colleges, educational institutions, and vehicles on an odd-even basis. A sub-committee of the Center’s Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) held an emergency meeting to take these measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) as the air quality continues to deteriorate in the National Capital Region. A further review meeting will be held on November 6 to take further appropriate action based on air quality assessments.
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Air pollution is ringing alarm bells in Delhi. Pollution is increasing day by day. Farmers in the neighboring states of Punjab, Haryana, and UP are burning crop waste and the smog is thickly covering Delhi. As a result, the air quality has deteriorated. The air quality index has crossed the 400 mark in several parts of Delhi. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research, the national capital Delhi reached extreme levels. AQI was recorded as 408. Currently, Noida in UP has 393, and Gurugram in Haryana has 318. Most parts of the capital, barring a few such as Mandir Marg in central Delhi, recorded above 300.
Pollution has reached dangerous levels in Punjab and Haryana over the past two months due to the burning of agricultural waste. The Delhi government has been asking the neighboring areas to control these but to no avail. In this context, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has requested the UP and Haryana governments to set up a regional special task force to reduce air pollution in areas adjacent to Delhi like Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Noida. Gopal Roy said that joint cooperation is necessary to curb the problem of pollution. Due to the worsening pollution, the authorities have stopped all construction and demolition works in Delhi. CM Arvind Kejriwal has decided to provide Rs.5 thousand per month to every construction worker during the ban period. It has been stated that there will be restrictions on the activities until further orders are issued. On the other hand, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has appealed to the Delhi government to close schools until the air quality improves.
