Air quality in various parts of Delhi plummeted into the ‘severe’ category on Friday morning, with Mundka registering the highest Air Quality Index (AQI) at 498, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). A thick haze shrouded the capital’s skyline as a result in the morning.

As per the CPCB, the AQI in the Lodhi Road area stood at 438, Jahangirpuri at 491, and the RK Puram area (T3) at 486 and 473, respectively. Multiple locations in Noida also experienced ‘severe’ AQI, with Sector 62, Sector 1, and Sector 116 recording AQI at 483, 413, and 415, respectively, ANI reported.

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In response to the deteriorating air quality, the Delhi government ordered the closure of all government and private primary schools for the next two days. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced the closures on his official account. He wrote, “In light of the rising pollution levels, all government and private primary schools in Delhi will remain closed for the next 2 days.”

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Thursday, which includes restrictions on certain vehicles and suspension of primary school classes.

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According to an official release by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the Delhi government has imposed a ban on construction activities in the entire National Capital Region (NCR).

However, exemptions have been made for the projects of railway services, metro services, airports, inter-state bus terminals, defence-related activities, healthcare-related activities, etc. The official statement further stated that the government will intensify the frequency of mechanized road sweeping and ensure daily water-sprinkling along with dust suppressants.

Activities including earthwork for excavation and filling, including boring and drilling works, will be banned. According to the official release, a ban has been imposed on non-essential construction work, stone crushing, and mining in the region.

Speaking to ANI, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that a meeting of the concerned department would be held today to discuss the “implementation of GRAP Stage III”.

What is the Air Quality Index (AQI)?

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a vital tool for effectively communicating air quality status to the public in an easily understandable manner. It consists of six AQI categories: Good, Satisfactory, Moderately Polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe.

Each category is determined based on the levels of ambient concentrations of air pollutants and their potential health impacts, known as health breakpoints. According to the AQI scale, air quality falls into the following ranges: 0 to 50 is ‘good,’ 51 to 100 is ‘satisfactory,’ 101 to 200 is ‘moderate,’ 201 to 300 is ‘poor,’ 301 to 400 is ‘very poor,’ and 401 to 450 is ‘severe.”

(With ANI inputs)