The fourth and final phase of the Centre's Graded Action Response Plan (GRAP) is in place with several restrictions including a ban on all medium and heavy goods vehicles not involved in essential services from entering the capital. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a statutory body responsible for devising strategies to combat pollution in the region, on Sunday called on Delhi and the NCR states to enforce a series of emergency measures. The concern regarding deteriorating air quality remains the same across Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Here are top developments on rising levels of air pollution and what is being done to handle it.
Top Points
Several areas in Delhi have recorded a worse AQI than the city's average on Monday. Bawana's AQI stood at 478, while Jahangirpuri recorded the air quality index at 475 and Wazirpur's air quality stood at 482, according to CPCB data.
In view of the increasing pollution and to strictly implement GRAP-4, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has called a meeting of all concerned departments on Monday, ANI reported citing the environment ministry.
Meanwhile, Punjab on Sunday reported 3,230 farm fires, the highest in a day so far this season, as air quality continues to worsen, reported news agency PTI. It added that the total number of stubble burning incidents in Punjab this season stands at 17,403, according to Punjab Remote Sensing Centre data. According to the data, farm fires in November so far constitute 56 per cent of the total stubble burning incidents this season, PTI reported.
In Punjab, the air quality remained poor for another day with Bathinda recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 285, Mandi Gobindgarh 242, Khanna 241, Patiala 229 and Ludhiana 228, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
In Haryana, Gurugram recorded an AQI of 358 (very poor category), Ambala recorded a 'moderate' air quality with AQI of 164 while Bhiwani recorded 'Very Poor' air with AQI of 343. Faridabad has 'Severe Plus' air quality as its AQI touched the 500 mark on Monday morning. Kaitha's air was also in 'Very Poor' category with AQI at 360.
Amid declining air quality, Gurugram DC has ordered the Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs) to install sprinklers apart from other pollution-controlling measures. The DC has also advised people to go out of their homes only when necessary and use public transport and bicycles.
In neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, the situation is no better. Noida's AQI stood at 406 according to CPCM data on Monday morning, as of 7 am. Greater Noida's AQI was even worse with AQI 449 (Very Poor category). Lalbagh in Lucknow recorded 'Very Poor' category air quality with AQI at 342, whereas Meerut's AQI stood at 376, again in 'Very Poor' quality.
Noida authority on Sunday deployed several water tankers across the region to sprinkle water in a bid to reduce pollutants in the air.
Meanwhile, the air quality index at Indirapuram, Ghaziabad was at 339 (very poor) on Monday morning while the same at Loni was 490 (Severe Plus), the CPCB data revealed.
Mumbai recorded a 'Poor' AQI of 239 in the Bandra Kurla region while the same at Borivali East was 123.
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