National Capital Region Archives - Lokmarg

IndiGo CEO Addresses Flight Crew, Staff Amid Concerns Over Poor Air Quality

By LokMarg 6th November 2023

Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer of IndiGo, one of India’s largest carriers, on Monday addressed the crew and staff about the deteriorating air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region.

The CEO discussed the implications of the poor air quality, especially in the context of aviation, with airline’s captain, cabin crew, and office staff.

When asked about the measures IndiGo is taking to address air pollution, the CEO stated, “Of course, we interact with everyone on that and we make sure that we try to control the air quality inside. But what’s happening outside is a consequence of a lot of different factors.”

In an exclusive interview with ANI, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers expressed his concern about air quality, emphasizing that, “it affects everyone, including those who closely monitor air quality index. He mentioned that IndiGo aligns its operations with government measures to address air quality concerns,” he told ANI.

Pieter also highlighted the presence of High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters inside IndiGo’s aircraft, which help maintain air quality during flights. “Aircraft have a filter system–HEPA filters, which are really the best filters around. So, the moment we place the filters, the air quality is being filtered, but it clearly does not influence the setting in Delhi,” IndiGo CEO told ANI.

IndiGo, as one of the largest carriers in the country, operates approximately 1,900 flights daily, serving nearly three lakh passengers. The airline said it is committed to ensuring the well-being of its passengers and crew, both in terms of in-flight air quality and aligning with government measures to address the broader air quality concerns in the region.

As Delhi and the NCR grapple with air quality challenges, the efforts made by IndiGo and other stakeholders in the aviation sector to mitigate these concerns remain essential for the well-being of the region’s residents and visitors.

The overall air quality in the National Capital continues to be in the ‘severe’ category’ for the fifth straight day, as per the Central Pollution Control Board.

According to the data issued by the System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR-India), the air quality in the National Capital was recorded at 488, up from 410 a day ago. (ANI)

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Delhi-NCR AQI Continue To Remain In ‘Very Poor’ Category

By LokMarg 23rd January 2023

The air quality in the national capital remained in the ‘very poor category’ with Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 381 on Monday, as per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

The AQI in the Delhi University area was 389, while in the IIT Delhi area, it was recorded at 382. In the Airport (T3) area, the quality of air was recorded at 387.
According to SAFAR, the AQI in the National Capital Region (NCR) also remained in the ‘Very Poor Category’. The AQI in Gurugram stood was recorded to be 388, while Noida also registered the same figure.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) 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.

Even after the overall air quality of the national capital deteriorated suddenly, rapidly, and unanticipatedly, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Sunday the sub-committee for invoking actions under GRAP of CAQM decided that there is no need for invoking the stage III of GRAP at this moment, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change informed on Sunday.

It is pertinent to note that Stage III of GRAP means a ban on all construction and demolition activities except those of national importance.

Considering this sudden rise in the average AQI of Delhi, the Sub-Committee for invoking actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) met today to take stock of the situation.

During the meeting, it was noted that this sudden and steep dip in air quality parameters in the last 24 hours in the region led to the overall AQI of Delhi moving into the “Severe” category today is an aberration as the forecasts predict immediate improvement with the overall AQI to move into the ‘Very Poor’ category from tonight itself, the Ministry stated.

Various agencies responsible for implementing measures under the GRAP and Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of NCR and DPCC have also been advised to intensify pollution control and mitigating measures under Stage-I and Stage-II of GRAP in the entire NCR to prevent deterioration of air quality.

Further, the Sub-Committee is closely watching the situation and will review the air quality scenario accordingly. The revised schedule of GRAP is available on the Commission’s official website and can be accessed via caqm.nic.in, the release further stated. (ANI)

Delhi: AQI Severe; Noida Records 529 AQI, Gurugram At 478

By LokMarg 5th November 2022

The air quality in Delhi continued to remain in the ‘severe’ category on Saturday, for the third day in a row, even though a slight improvement was noted in the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital, which stood at 431 this morning.

On Friday during the corresponding morning period, the AQI of the capital city was recorded at 472.
Also, areas in the national capital region (NCR) area – Noida and Gurugram at 7 am this morning recorded an AQI of 529 and 478 respectively both in the highly toxic ‘severe’.

Dhirpur in West Delhi recorded an AQI of 534.

On Friday, SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research) said that stubble-burning accounted for 34 percent to Delhi’s particulate matter (PM) 2.5 pollution.

Air Quality Index from 0 to 100 is considered 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.

People of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) complained of choking and ‘eye burning’ due to smog and air pollution leaving people gasping for breath.

Earlier on Friday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann held a press conference and urged the central government to come forward and lead measures to check severe smog in the national capital region.

Kejriwal and Mann said that the AAP governments are in Punjab and Delhi. This is not the time to raise fingers or abuse each other. If they say, Kejriwal is responsible and we say they are responsible, this will not solve the problem of smog in NCR, they added.

“We do not want to play blame game, we are responsible (for smog in NCR)”, they added.

CM Kejriwal announced that primary schools in Delhi would be closed from November 5.

Besides, the outdoor activity of students of the above fifth standard has been banned.

The Delhi government is also mulling implementing the odd-even norms for plying of vehicles in Delhi to contain the pollution caused by vehicular emission, he added.

However, the forecast predicts that the condition of air quality in Delhi and nearby regions will continue to deteriorate further and expects improvement from November 5.

“Air quality is likely to remain within ‘Severe’ today and likely to improve tomorrow to ‘lower end of Severe’ and from 5th onwards air quality is likely to improve further to ‘Very poor’ due to upper-level wind reversal that prevents inflow of stubble-related pollutants. Higher surface wind speed on 5th Nov is likely to disperse pollutants,” said a press release. (ANI)

Air Pollution In Delhi Reaches Alarming Level

By LokMarg 2nd November 2022

The pollution in and around Delhi has reached an alarming level as the air quality index (AQI) has been recorded as very poor on Wednesday.

According to the Meteorological Department, the AQI in Delhi today was recorded at 354 which falls under the category of very poor.
As per the parameters set by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the AQI category from 301 to 400 are considered very poor and from 401 to 500 severe.

Further, as per the information provided by the air quality data agency ‘SAFAR’, the AQI in Anand Vihar was recorded in the severe category at 406 today, followed by ITO 382 and Akshardham 363.

A student Rameshwari from ITO has demanded to implement ‘odd-even’ norms for vehicles to improve the air quality in the national capital.

Rameshwari said “I am very much concerned to breathe in Delhi nowadays. Vehicular pollution and stubble burning have made Delhi’s air toxic, affecting both the rich and the poor.”

The people of Delhi and the national capital region (NCR) have been breathing in the toxic air since a few days before Diwali as the smog hit the area about a fortnight ago.

“We face the same thing in the winter every year. This time crackers were sold in black and were burst in plenty. Now the toxic air is affecting everyone, especially the aged persons”, said Rajkumar, who works at Gulab Bhavan, ITO.

Rinki Yadav, who came to Nehru Park for a walk, said “I am feeling irritation in my eyes. My children also feel uneasiness in breathing due to pollution. Both the Central and Delhi governments should make a concrete policy to curb pollution. For the time being, they should at least spray water on the streets to do away with the dust particles in the air.”

A Rajouri Garden resident Kamaldeep Singh, who came for a morning walk in Nehru Park, also expressed his concern over the deteriorated air quality in the national capital.

Kamaldeep Singh said “I am feeling sore in my throat and acute irritation in my eyes. Kids and aged people nowadays are avoiding going on walks due to severe air pollution. Government should spray water on the streets and stop all construction works in Delhi to improve the air quality a bit.” (ANI)