Tag: Air Quality

Delhi AQI

Air Quality In Delhi Remains Poor

By LokMarg

The air quality in the National Capital continued to remaim in ‘poor’ category on Thursday.

The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi, as per SAFAR-India (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research), was recorded at 276 on Thursday morning.

On Wednesday, the AQI in the national capital, as per the data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), was in the ‘poor’ category at 286.

However, AQI in some areas of Delhi was recorded in the ‘very poor’ category on Thursday morning. As per the data from CPCB, the AQI at Anand Vihar stood at 348, in the ITO at 313, and in the Ashok Vihar area at 323 on Thursday at 8:00 a.m.

A cyclist from the city, Dev, while speaking to ANI, said, “The pollution level seems to be high now. Breathing gets difficult, visibility gets impacted and there is also a headache sometimes.”

Earlier, the AQI across Delhi improved from ‘very poor’ on Tuesday to ‘poor’ on Wednesday morning. As per the data from CPCB, the AQI at Anand Vihar stood at 291, in the IGI airport area at 279, in the ITO at 252, and in the Narela area at 283 on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted no rainfall in the National Capital till December 11. There will be clear skies with shallow to moderate fog in the morning across the city.

Delhi has been experiencing air quality in the range of ‘severe’ to ‘very poor’ over the last few weeks.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said last week that Grap-3 has been lifted in the national capital but the government is trying to ensure that Grap-1 and 2 are strictly implemented.

“Due to the change in weather during the last two days, there has been a decline in pollution. The Commission for Air Quality Management has lifted the restrictions of Grap-3. The ban on BS-3 petrol and BS-4 diesel vehicles and the ban on construction demolition have been lifted,” Gopal Rai said.

“GRAP 3 is imposed when AQI is 400, but it continued despite low AQI because fluctuations were visible in AQI after Diwali. If the wind speed slows down, AQI may increase again, hence GRAP-1 and GRAP-2 should be strictly implemented. For this, directions are being given to all the departments again,” he added.

The air quality index from 0 to 100 is considered ‘good’, 100 to 200 ‘moderate’, 200 to 300 ‘poor’, 300 to 400 ‘very poor’ and from 400 to 500 or above ‘severe’. (ANI)

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Air Quality pollution Delhi

Delhi’s Air Quality ‘Very Poor’, AQI At 398

By LokMarg

The National Capital continued to experience “very poor” air quality on Sunday morning, with an air quality index (AQI) of 398.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR-India), the air quality index in Delhi was recorded at 398 at 7:15 am on Sunday, categorizing it as ‘very poor.’

As per the Central Pollution Control Board data recorded at 8 am, the AQI in Anand Vihar was 336. Similarly, at Alipur, the AQI was recorded at 363, at ITO, it was 329, and at Bawana, it was recorded at 371 – all falling into the ‘very poor’ category.

Following a slight improvement, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) revoked Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Saturday.

The decision was prompted by the city’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 319, as reported by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Although Stage IV restrictions were lifted, Stages I to III of the GRAP will persist in the entire NCR to prevent AQI levels from worsening to the ‘Severe’ category.

The CAQM, in a release, said that in view of the significant improvement in the average air quality of Delhi-NCR, the Sub-Committee for operationalization of actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) met today to review the current air quality scenario in the region as well as the forecasts for meteorological conditions and air quality index made available by IMD/ IITM and also take an appropriate call on the stringent actions under Stage-IV of GRAP already in place in the entire National Capital Region (NCR) since November 5, 2023.

“While comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality parameters of Delhi-NCR, the Sub-Committee observed that yesterday (i.e., November 17, 2023), Delhi’s average AQI clocked 405, which started declining and showing improvement since the late evening of November 17, 2023. Further, the air quality forecasts by IMD/ IITM also do not indicate any steep degradation in the overall air quality of Delhi-NCR in the coming days,” the release added.

Moreover, as per the Central pollution watchdog, the present AQI level of Delhi is around 322 (very poor) recorded at 2 pm on Saturday, which is about 128 AQI points below the threshold for invoking the GRAP Stage-IV actions and preventive actions under all Stages up to Stage-IV are underway, there is a likelihood of sustaining the improvement in AQI.

“The forecast by IMD/ITM also does not indicate any further steep degradation,” the statutory body said.

“Various agencies responsible for implementing measures under GRAP and Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of NCR and DPCC have also been advised to ensure strict implementation and intensification of actions under Stage-I, Stage-II and Stage-III of the revised GRAP in the entire NCR. Further, the Commission appeals to the citizens of NCR to cooperate in implementing GRAP and follow the steps mentioned in the Citizen Charter under GRAP,” it added in the statement. (ANI)

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Delhi aqi

Air Quality In Delhi Remains Severe For 3rd Day On Trot

By LokMarg

The overall air quality in Delhi continued to remain in the ‘severe’ category for the third straight day on Saturday morning, as per the SAFAR-India.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)-India, the overall air quality in the national capital Delhi (Overall) is in the ‘severe’ category with Air Quality Index (AQI) of 504.

The latest ANI drone camera footage from the ITO area showed a layer of haze covering the city.

In the Indira Gandhi International Airport (T3) the AQI was recorded 571.

Delhi’s Dhirpur on Saturday recorded an AQI of 542.

The increasing pollution in the city has escalated concern among the residents, who claimed that they are having difficulty breathing. “Since 3-4 days, pollution is very high. Delhi govt must take some initiative…now the situation is such that we have to wear masks…we are having difficulty in breathing,” said Krishan Kant, a resident of Delhi.

Meanwhile, similar situation was recorded in Nodia as AQI plunged to the ‘severe’ category recording 576. In Noida Sector-116 AQI stands at 426 and in Noida Sector 62 at 428 as per the Central Pollution Control Board.

Speaking to ANI, Abhay Kumar a Noida resident said, “Pollution level has increased. It feels like getting choked…The air feels heavy.”

Gurugram recorded an AQI of 512 keeping the air quality under the ‘severe’ category.

Delhi had the highest PM (Particulate Matter) 2.5 levels in the country in the month of October and has been experiencing a consistent upward trend since 2021, according to the Respirer Report.

As the Air Quality Index (AQI) in several parts of Delhi-NCR is reeling under the ‘severe’ category, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday sought responses from the Chief Secretaries of the affected states and directed to take immediate remedial action and submit the action taken report before the Tribunal.

NGT in a statement said that immediate action is required for the prevention and control of air pollution in these cities so as to ensure better air quality to the residents.

“In view of the NGT seeks response of Chief Secretaries of the States where the cities AQI has dipped to severe, very poor and poor, are directed to take immediate remedial action and submit action taken report before the Tribunal,” added the statement. (ANI)

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Air Quality In NCR

PM’s Principal Secy Chairs High-Level Task Force Meet On Air Quality In NCR

By LokMarg

Principal Secretary to Prime Minister PK Mishra chaired a high-level task force meeting on air quality in the NCR.

The Principal Secretary emphasised the need to shift to cleaner fuels and EVs and develop EV Charging facilities.

Meanwhile, the States were also asked to control stubble burning; biomass management and shift to alternate crop varieties to improve air quality.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretaries of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi along with Secretaries of GOI and Commission of Air Quality management (CAQM).

Earlier in the morning, the air quality in the national capital was recorded in the ‘moderate’ category, as per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research SAFAR-India.

The air quality index (AQI) at Lodhi Road is satisfactory at 72, while at the Pusa Road area, it is moderate at 159.

The AQI near Delhi University was recorded at 313 in the ‘very poor’ category, and 212 in Noida (UP) which is again in the poor quality zone. The air quality in Delhi’s Anand Vihar was recorded as poor with an AQI of 257, while in the Bawana area, it was recorded at 347, which is again in the poor zone. The R K Puram area recorded an AQI of 214, at Dwarka-Sector 8 it was recorded at 219, while at Narela it was at 285, all in the poor category.

With the air quality index in Delhi dropping to the ‘poor’ level earlier on October 6, authorities in the National Capital Region (NCR) were asked to strictly implement measures under Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

This included a complete ban on the use of coal in roadside eateries, hotels and restaurants.

The Air Quality Index is a tool for effective communication of air quality status to people in terms that are easy to understand. There are six AQI categories, namely Good + Satisfactory, Moderately polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe. Each of these categories is decided based on ambient concentration values of air pollutants and their likely health impacts (known as health breakpoints).

According to the AQI scale, the air quality check between 0 and 50 are considered “good”, 51 and 100 are “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 are “moderate”, 201 and 300 are “poor”, 301 and 400 are “very poor”, and 401 and 450 are “severe” and “severe+” when AQI exceeds 450.

Earlier, the Centre’s air quality panel directed authorities in the National Capital Region to enforce a ban on coal usage in hotels and restaurants and take punitive measures against polluting industries and thermal power plants as the air quality in Delhi plunged into the “poor” category.

This action came as part of the government’s pollution control plan known as the ‘Graded Response Action Plan’ (GRAP) which is implemented in the Delhi-NCR to combat air pollution during the winter season. (ANI)

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Air Quality Delhi

Delhi’s Air Quality Recorded In Moderate Category

By LokMarg

The air quality in the national capital was recorded in the ‘moderate’ category on Friday morning, as per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research SAFAR-India.

The air quality index (AQI) at Lodhi Road is satisfactory at 72, while at the Pusa Road area, it is moderate at 159.

The AQI near Delhi University was recorded at 313 in the ‘very poor’ category, and 212 in Noida (UP) which is again in the poor quality zone. The air quality in Delhi’s Anand Vihar was recorded as poor with an AQI of 257, while in the Bawana area, it was recorded at 347, which is again in the poor zone. The R K Puram area recorded an AQI of 214, at Dwarka-Sector 8 it was recorded at 219, while at Narela it was at 285, all in the poor category.

With the air quality index in Delhi dropping to the ‘poor’ level earlier on October 6, authorities in the National Capital Region (NCR) were asked to strictly implement measures under Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

This included a complete ban on the use of coal in roadside eateries, hotels and restaurants.

Air Quality Index is a tool for effective communication of air quality status to people in terms that are easy to understand. There are six AQI categories, namely Good + Satisfactory, Moderately polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe. Each of these categories is decided based on ambient concentration values of air pollutants and their likely health impacts (known as health breakpoints).

According to the AQI scale, the air quality check between 0 and 50 are considered “good”, 51 and 100 are “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 are “moderate”, 201 and 300 are “poor”, 301 and 400 are “very poor”, and 401 and 450 are “severe” and “severe+” when AQI exceeds 450.

Earlier on October 9, during a press conference, the AAP Chief Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said, “In 2022, the air quality in Delhi improved further by 8 per cent. In 2023, this improvement has reached 31 per cent. According to a report, in the last 8 years, excluding the COVID period, the air quality in Delhi has been the best in the year 2023.”

Earlier, the Centre’s air quality panel directed authorities in the National Capital Region to enforce a ban on coal usage in hotels and restaurants and take punitive measures against polluting industries and thermal power plants as the air quality in Delhi plunged into the “poor” category.

This action came as part of the government’s pollution control plan known as the ‘Graded Response Action Plan’ (GRAP) which is implemented in the Delhi-NCR to combat air pollution during the winter season. (ANI)

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Amid Biting Cold In Capital

Amid Biting Cold, Rickshaw Pullers, Hawkers Forced To Work For Survival In Capital

By LokMarg

Despite the biting cold affecting the national capital, this December, not everyone is very fortunate to have a hot coffee and a warm bed. There are certain sections that are compelled to work in the open during this chilling season as the mercury dips.

After a brief respite, severe cold conditions returned to the national capital on Saturday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded 10 degrees celsius at the Safdarjung station in Delhi.
In such circumstances on Delhi’s streets, we can see many people putting efforts to connect the ends either by selling tea or pulling rickshaws. Moreover, hawkers, sweepers, and many other professionals have also gotten no respite from the cold.

A tea seller in Delhi told ANI that he opens his shop daily as several other people come to his shop early in the morning.

“I have to open the tea stall at 4 am as there are many people, especially auto drivers, rickshaw pullers, and hawkers, come here to my shop to start their day with the tea from my shop,” said the tea shop owner Ramesh Sharma.

A sweeper Lalit who sweeps the street near Civil Lines said “I am an MCD worker, I have to do work even if it is cold or raining before Delhi wakes up because it’s my job. I come here at 4 and sweep the street before the traffic starts to run, else it would become very challenging.”

Meanwhile, one of the rickshaw pullers here, Basir Khan said that they are compelled to work in such conditions as he has to feed the family.

“People like us have to work every day under compulsion if we start being affected by the cold waves or rain, how will our families survive and how will my children study? Everything would turn difficult,” rickshaw puller Basir Khan said.

Another rickshaw puller, who is also a migrant worker from Bihar, Dashrath Sahni, expressed his feelings and said that if affected by weather, he would not be able to pay the rent of the rickshaw to its owner.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), New Delhi’s Lodhi Road experienced ‘Very Poor’ air quality this morning with AQI recorded at 369.

The India Meteorological Department earlier predicted that cold wave conditions would likely prevail from December 31 and January 1 over Haryana, Chandigarh, and New Delhi.

In a tweet on December 28, IMD said, “Reduction in dense fog and cold day conditions over northwest India during next 48 hours. A fresh spell of dense fog and cold wave likely to commence over northwest India from 31st December 2022”. (ANI)

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Delhi: BS3 Petrol, BS4 Diesel Vehicles Ban As Air Quality Deteriorates

By LokMarg

The Transport department of the Delhi government imposed a ban on the plying of BS-3 Petrol and BS- 4 Diesel LMVs (4-wheelers) in Delhi-NCR till December 9 with immediate effect.

The restrictions came in the wake of the restrictions imposed by the air quality panel under stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Earlier on Sunday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a Union government panel recommending steps to control air pollution in the national capital, announced a temporary ban on construction and demolition activities in Delhi-NCR.

The announcement came after the air quality in Delhi and the national capital region worsened again, breaching the ‘severe’ category.

“As per the directions as provided under Stage III of the revised GRAP and under section 115 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, it is hereby ordered that there shall be restrictions to ply BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel LMVs (four-wheelers) in NCT of Delhi with immediate effect till December 9 or till downward revision in GRAP stage, whichever is earlier,” read an order issued by the transport department.

The ban will not apply to the vehicles used for government, electoral, and emergency services operations.

“If any BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel LMV (4 wheeler) found plying on the roads, will be prosecuted under section 194 of Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 which provides with a fine of Rs 20,000,” read the transport department order.

Meanwhile, The CAQM, which on Sunday chaired a meeting to review the air quality in Delhi-NCR, put out a release saying, “As the AQI in Delhi has slipped into ‘severe’ category, the sub-committee had decided that all actions, as envisaged under Stage III of the GRAP, be implemented in right earnest by all the agencies concerned, with immediate effect in the NCR, in addition to all action under Stage I and Stage II of the GRAP.”

The panel further observed that the air quality saw a further deterioration over the last 24 hours, with Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 407 on December 4, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

In its order, the CAQM says it temporarily banned construction activities, “with the exception of Metro Rail services, including stations; airport and inter-state bus terminals; railway services/stations; national security/defence-related activities/ projects of national importance; hospitals/healthcare facilities; linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines; sanitation projects like sewage treatment plants and water supply projects; ancillary activities specific to and supplementing above categories of projects”.

Milk and dairy units and those involved in the manufacturing of life-saving medical equipment, drugs, and medicines, were also exempted from the restrictions stipulated in the CAQM order.

An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’ and 401 and 500 ‘severe’. (ANI)

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Air Quality In NCR

Delhi Suffers Another ‘Very Poor’ Air Day With 337 AQI

By LokMarg

Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded on Tuesday at 337 by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

According to the SAFAR, Delhi’s air quality was recorded in the ‘very poor’ category on Tuesday.
Earlier on Monday, the national capital woke up to smog with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 340 by SAFAR.

The Air Quality Index from 0 to 100 is considered as good, while from 100 to 200 it is moderate, from 200 to 300 it is poor, and from 300 to 400 it is said to be very poor and from 400 to 500 or above it is considered as severe.

Earlier on Sunday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a Union government panel recommending steps to control air pollution in the national capital, announced a temporary ban on construction and demolition activities in Delhi-NCR as part of its Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The announcement came after the air quality in Delhi and the national capital region breached the ‘severe’ category.

The CAQM, which on Sunday chaired a meeting to review the air quality in Delhi-NCR, put out a release saying, “As the AQI in Delhi has slipped into ‘severe’ category, the sub-committee had decided that all actions, as envisaged under Stage III of the GRAP, be implemented in right earnest by all the agencies concerned, with immediate effect in the NCR, in addition to all action under Stage I and Stage II of the GRAP.”

The panel had further observed that the air quality saw a further deterioration over the last 24 hours, with Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 407 on December 4, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

In its order, the CAQM said it temporarily banned construction activities, “with the exception of Metro Rail services, including stations; airport and inter-state bus terminals; railway services/stations; national security/defence-related activities/ projects of national importance; hospitals/healthcare facilities; linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines; sanitation projects like sewage treatment plants and water supply projects; ancillary activities specific to and supplementing above categories of projects”.

Milk and dairy units and those involved in the manufacturing of life-saving medical equipment, drugs, and medicines, were also exempted from the restrictions stipulated in the CAQM order. (ANI)

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Delhi NCR air quality

Construction, Demolition Banned In Delhi-NCR As AQI Turns Severe

By LokMarg

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a Union government panel recommending steps to control air pollution in the national capital, on Sunday announced a temporary ban on construction and demolition activities in Delhi-NCR as part of its Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

The announcement came after the air quality in Delhi and the national capital region worsened again, breaching the ‘severe’ category.
The CAQM, which on Sunday chaired a meeting to review the air quality in Delhi-NCR, put out a release saying, “As the AQI in Delhi has slipped into ‘severe’ category, the sub-committee had decided that all actions, as envisaged under Stage III of the GRAP, be implemented in right earnest by all the agencies concerned, with immediate effect in the NCR, in addition to all action under Stage I and Stage II of the GRAP.”

The panel further observed that the air quality saw a further deterioration over the last 24 hours, with Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 407 on December 4, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

In its order, the CAQM says it temporarily banned construction activities, “with the exception of Metro Rail services, including stations; airport and inter-state bus terminals; railway services/stations; national security/defence-related activities/ projects of national importance; hospitals/healthcare facilities; linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines; sanitation projects like sewage treatment plants and water supply projects; ancillary activities specific to and supplementing above categories of projects”.

Milk and dairy units and those involved in the manufacturing of life-saving medical equipment, drugs and medicines, were also exempted from the restrictions stipulated in the CAQM order.

An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’ and 401 and 500 ‘severe’. (ANI)

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Air Quality Delhi

CAQM Lifts Ban On Entry Of Heavy Vehicles To NCR As Air Quality Improves

By LokMarg

In view of the improvement in the overall air quality of the Delhi-NCR in the past few days, a Central government panel revoked Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) stage 4, which means that there is no ban on entry of trucks and non-BS 6 diesel light motor vehicles are allowed. But ban on non-essential construction activities which come under GRAP-3 now in force would continue.

The GRAP is an emergency response action plan invoked with a view to arrest further deterioration of adverse air quality scenarios in NCR.
GRAP stage 3 still remains invoked. So, ban on construction and demolition activities in the entire NCR region except for railway services, metro rail services including stations and other essential activities will continue.

According to the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region (CAQM), “Under Stage III State Governments in NCR/ GNCTD may impose restrictions on BS III petrol and BS IV diesel LMVS (4 wheelers). Choose a cleaner commute — share a ride to work or use public transport or walk or cycle.”

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai will chair a meeting on Monday to discuss revoking of 50 per cent of work from home and re-opening primary schools after the orders issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region (CAQM) today.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry in a statement said, “While comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality parameters of Delhi-NCR, the Commission noted that due to forecast by IMD/ IITM not indicating any steep degradation in the overall air quality of Delhi-NCR in the coming days, it is advisable to relax the restrictions and further roll back Stage IV of GRAP with immediate effect in the entire NCR”.

According to CAQM, the present AQI level of Delhi is around 339 which is about 111 AQI

points below the threshold for invoking the GRAP Stage-IV actions (Delhi AQI > 450) and preventive/ mitigative/ restrictive actions under all Stages up to Stage-IV are underway, there is a likelihood of sustaining the improvement in AQI. The forecast by IMD/ IITM also does not indicate any steep degradation further.

The forecasts also indicated a significant improvement around November 5 and November 6, 2022, therefore, the sub-Committee while invoking Stage IV of the GRAP, decided to review the situation on November 6, 2022. (ANI)

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