As the air quality in the national capital witnessed an overnight improvement, attributed to an uptick in wind speed and a change in wind direction, the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) took the decision on Saturday to lift stringent restrictions. These included the removal of bans on construction work related to linear projects and the entry of polluting trucks and certain commercial four-wheelers into the city. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) for the city, measured at 4 pm daily, saw an improvement from 405 on Friday to 319 on Saturday. These actions represent the final stage, Stage IV, of the Central government’s air pollution control plan, activated when the AQI approaches or exceeds the 450-mark in the city.
Under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), CAQM directed Delhi-NCR to rescind all emergency measures, permitting only CNG, electric, and BS VI-compliant vehicles from other states to enter Delhi. Exemptions were granted to vehicles involved in essential services. Additionally, all medium and heavy goods vehicles not engaged in essential services were banned from entering the capital. The CAQM decision aligns with the anticipation of stable air quality in the coming days, as per air quality forecasts by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). An IMD official highlighted that an increase in wind speed from November 21 is expected to contribute to further reductions in air pollution.
Post Your Comments