Commission of Air Quality Management Archives - Lokmarg

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

By LokMarg 6th December 2022

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)

Heavy Flow From UP Caused Foam On Yamuna: Gopal Rai

By LokMarg 30th October 2022

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has claimed that the speedy flow of river Yamuna from Uttar Pradesh is the cause behind foam formation atop the river in the national capital.

“High-speed river flow from UP is the main cause for the foam formation over the river in Delhi especially in the Kalindi Kunj area,” Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai said quoting the scientists of Delhi Jal Board.
Addressing a press conference in the national capital, the environment minister cited “multiple reasons” as a cause for the increase in the pollution levels during the winter season in Delhi and its nearby areas.

Rai further said in the meeting to discuss pollution levels in Delhi NCR, that the AQI level is likely to reach over 400 from November 1.

He assured that a ‘monitoring committee’ will be formed to keep a watch over construction works that are still in progress despite the imposition of a ban in the wake of the deteriorating air quality of the National Capital Region.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and adjoining areas imposed this ban on Saturday stating that all construction works other than the one of Central Vista need to be stopped amid the rising pollution levels.

The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) sub-committee decided to implement Stage III of GRAP in the entire NCR in a move to prevent further deterioration of air quality.

He highlighted that the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Anand Vihar and Vivek Vihar has been reported highest at the levels of 440 and 408 respectively, Rai added.

Accusing the BJP-led central government for the stubble burning in Punjab — which is another cause of pollution in neighbouring cities including Delhi, the environment minister said, “Punjab government is ready to give financial support to the farmers after banning stubble burning but it is the Centre which is not ready to contribute to it monetarily.”

The decision of the Delhi government to ban firecrackers was also criticised by the BJP and they are also not letting the onset of campaign ‘Red light on, Gaadi off’ here.

“BJP is also restricting the Red Light On, Gaadi Off campaign, despite the fact that it helped bring pollution down to 15 per cent levels in the national capital in the previous year,” he said.

Rai on Thursday had claimed in a press conference that the campaign was to be rolled out on October 28, however, it was being postponed as the approval was due from the L-G’s office. He added that the file was sent on October 21 for approval.

Denying the charges, L-G office sources said that the file that was sent to the L-G office mentioned October 31 as the date of rollout instead of October 28 as claimed by the Delhi minister.

Further mentioning about the cleanliness of Yamuna, Rai emphasised on the five years’ time sought by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal stating that such a “huge problem cannot be resolved in two days.”

To address the deteriorating air quality of the National Capital Region, the Sub-Committee for invoking actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the CAQM in NCR and adjoining areas held an emergency meeting on Saturday.

This meeting was conducted after the third phase of GRAP in Delhi NCR.

While comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality parameters during the meeting, the Commission noted that due to unfavourable meteorological conditions with slower wind speed and sudden spike in farm fire incidents, it is considered necessary to implement Stage III of GRAP with immediate effect in the entire NCR.

“As per the dynamic model and weather/ meteorological forecast, the overall air quality over Delhi is likely to remain in the Very Poor to Severe category from 29.10.2022 to 30.10.2022. The air quality is likely to deteriorate and remain in a Severe category from 31.10.2022 to 01.11.2022 and for the subsequent 6 Days, the air quality is likely to fluctuate between the Severe to Very Poor category,” read the official statement from CAQM.

The CAQM further noted that the winds are forecasted to be calm in the coming days and the wind direction is likely to change course frequently. Thus, there is a high likelihood of the pollutants getting trapped in the region and not getting dispersed effectively.

The CAQM had further appealed to the citizens of NCR to cooperate in implementing GRAP and follow the steps mentioned in the Citizen Charter under GARP. Apart from that, a 9-point action plan as per Stage III of GRAP was made applicable in the entire NCR.

The 9-point action plan includes steps to be implemented/ ensured by different agencies and Pollution Control Boards of NCR and DPCC, as per the official statement. (ANI)

Delhi Makes Anti-Smog Guns Compulsory For All Construction Sites

By LokMarg 28th September 2022

As stubble burning season begins in north India and with pollution levels in the national capital increasing, the Delhi government has begun started implementing its Winter Action Plan.

The Delhi government has made it compulsory for construction sites with an area of 5,000 sq metres or more to install anti-smog guns.
Now Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) measures will be implemented 3 days in advance based on forecasts before the air quality worsens.

While addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said, ”The Environment Department has prepared a 15-point Winter Action Plan.” “Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will present this 15-pointer Winter Action Plan in front of the people of Delhi on September 30.”

Gopal Rai said, ”This time, the Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM) has also made certain changes in the GRAP measures.” We are developing our Plan of Action, keeping in mind the advice of the CAQM, to be brought in force from October 1st. The major shift in the upcoming plan from the erstwhile system is that previously, the basic parameter was PM 2.5 and PM 10. On the basis of this parameter, the level of pollution was bifurcated into five categories: Moderate, Poor, Very Poor, Severe and Severe Plus.”

”Now, instead of gauging the level of pollution on the basis of PM 2.5 and PM 10 values, monitoring will be done on the basis of the Air Quality Index (AQI) and the GRAP measures will be implemented in Delhi accordingly. There will be four categories of levels of pollution instead of five in the new plan: Poor (AQI 201-300), Very Poor (AQI 301-400), Severe (401-450), Severe Plus (AQI 450+). The modification made in the GRAP measures is that, previously, it was implemented after the air quality falls below a certain. Now, the garb system will be implemented three days prior to reaching the level on the basis of estimation. AQI will be calculated on the basis of forecasts of IITM and IMD,” he added.

He said, ”Regarding the dust pollution in Delhi, it was mandatory to install an anti-smog gun on site with an area greater than 20,000 sq metre till now. But now there is a modification in this provision and now the construction site sized between 5000 sq metres to 10000 sq metres are required to have anti-smog guns. A construction site with an area between 5 thousand sq metres to 10 thousand sq metres needs to have one anti-smog gun.”

”Construction sites sized between 10 thousand sq metres to 15000sq metres are required to have two anti-smog guns and sites having sizes between 15000 sq metres and 20,000 sq metres need to have three anti-smog guns. Construction sites with an area greater than 20 thousand sq metres are required to have four anti-smog guns.” He continued.

The Environment Minister concluded, ”I held a meeting with all the officials of DPCC yesterday. Last year, we worked together with all the agencies working on construction sites in Delhi to keep a noose on pollution. Today, I want to appeal to them to follow the new provisions related to the installation of anti-smog guns, which now cover sites with an area of between 5,000 sq metres to 10,000 sq metres as well. We run an anti-dust campaign every year and it will be mandatory as per the Winter Action Plan to follow this provision. Action would be taken against all those agencies who violate this provision. ” (ANI)