Delhi Air Quality In ‘Very Poor’ Zone As AQI Hits 344
Delhi’s air quality slips to the ‘very poor’ band with several stations in ‘severe’ range, prompting Stage 4 restrictions on heavy vehicles, construction and schools, as the Supreme Court presses Punjab and Haryana to enforce stubble control measures
Delhi recorded very poor air quality on the morning of 18 November, with the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 344 and four monitoring stations reporting severe pollution levels, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
Out of 37 monitoring stations, Bawana (426), Wazirpur (412), Jahangirpuri (418) and Vivek Vihar (402) fell in the severe range. The overall air quality is forecast to remain in the very poor category over the next few days.
Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) came into force from 8 a.m. in Delhi-NCR, Akashvani News reported, following a persistent spell of severe air quality. Under Stage 4, entry of heavy vehicles from other states into Delhi is barred and all construction activities are suspended. Classes, except for standards 10 and 12, are to be shifted to hybrid mode. Trucks carrying essential commodities and services are exempt, and CNG, electric and BS-VI diesel trucks are allowed to enter the city.
An AQI between 0 and 50 is classified as good, 51 to 100 as satisfactory, 101 to 200 as moderate, 201 to 300 as poor, 301 to 400 as very poor and 401 to 500 as severe, according to CPCB norms.
On the weather front, the minimum temperature in Delhi settled at 9.6 degrees Celsius, 2.7 degrees below the season’s average, while the maximum temperature is expected to be around 26 degrees Celsius.
The Supreme Court on 17 November declined to impose year-round restrictions on all activities covered by GRAP but called for stricter implementation of stubble burning controls. The court asked the Punjab and Haryana governments to comply with the Commission for Air Quality Management’s (CAQM) directions on managing crop residue and directed both states to hold a joint meeting and ensure that the CAQM’s suggestions are fully implemented.
