After a slight improvement on Sunday, the air quality in Delhi again dropped to the ‘very poor’ category on Monday morning with the Air Quality Index (AQI) being recorded at 310 this morning.
The AQI stood at 290 (poor) at 7 am on Sunday due to favourable atmospheric conditions, primarily wind direction and speed.
According to data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR-India), at 8.30 am, the air quality index stood at 310, indicating ‘very poor’ air quality. Meanwhile, data recorded by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at various locations indicated the following AQI readings on Monday at 7 am: 361 at Anand Vihar, 368 at Alipur, 342 at Ashok Vihar, 318 at ITO Delhi, and 344 at RK Puram, all falling into the ‘very poor’ category, as per ANI.
On Sunday, Environment Minister Gopal Rai urged people to be vigilant and highlighted the need to continue following the rules, as stages 1, 2 and 3 of GRAP are still in place to tackle air pollution in the national capital.
Rai’s statement followed the lifting of GRAP 4 in Delhi amid better air quality. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) lifted restrictions, allowing trucks and buses (except BS-3 and BS-4 petrol and diesel vehicles) into the city and resuming ongoing construction activities.
Rai noted that though there has been a consistent improvement in air quality, people still need to remain vigilant to maintain this improvement. He further added that over the last two days, there has been a steady improvement in pollution levels.
Regarding vehicle restrictions, Rai explained that the ban on entry of trucks has been lifted, except for BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel vehicles. Restrictions apply solely to vehicles above BS 4. He also mentioned the resumption of previously halted linear projects.
Listing areas for resumed construction, Rai included railway and metro stations, airports, international bus terminals, national security-related projects, significant national projects, hospitals, linear projects, and cleanliness projects, ANI reported.
Under the GRAP 3 restrictions, boring, digging, structural construction, demolition, and loading/unloading at construction sites will be prohibited. Along with this, activities including vehicles on unmetalled roads, benching plant operation, cutting of flooring materials, and mining also remain prohibited.
