The eight areas in Delhi that recorded severe air quality on Saturday are Anand Vihar, Dwarka Sector 8, Narela, Punjabi Bagh, Bawana, Mundaka, Vivek Vihar and Rohini.
Delhi recorded its worst air quality of this season on Sunday as a thick haze engulfed the national capital which continued to grapple with deteriorating air quality.
The overall Air Quality Index of the national capital was recorded at 381 which falls in the very poor category, the highest of this season and just points below severe pollution level, according to data by the Central Pollution Control Board.
Twelve pollution monitoring stations located in various parts of Delhi recorded severe air quality while 20 stations recorded very poor air quality, according to data by the Central Pollution Control Board.
Authorities attribute the dip in air quality to localised factors like construction dust, vehicular pollution as well as regional factors like pollution due stubble burning from Punjab and Haryana.
A thick haze due to smog engulfed the national capital which recorded the worst air quality of this season, authorities said.
Delhi's air quality continued to remain 'very poor' for the fourth consecutive day on Saturday, prompting the Central Pollution Control Board and the Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research to issue separate advisories of people.
The Central Pollution Control Board recorded the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi at 350. The highest AQI of this season was recorded Friday at 361.
In the NCR region, Ghaziabad recorded severe pollution level, while Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida and Greater Noida all recorded 'very poor' air quality, according to a data by the Central Pollution Control Board data on Saturday.
The eight areas in Delhi that recorded severe air quality on Saturday are Anand Vihar, Dwarka Sector 8, Narela, Punjabi Bagh, Bawana, Mundaka, Vivek Vihar and Rohini.
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.
The CPCB-led task force has recommended stringent measures from November 1 to 10, forecasting further deterioration in the air quality ahead of Diwali.
KEEP WINDOWS SHUT, WEAR MASKS, AVOID OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, CENTRAL POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD WARNS DELHIITES
The task force said that at the beginning of November, the situation may get deteriorate further on account of localised emissions during festival and regional contribution due to stubble burning.
Authorities have warned Delhiites to keep windows shut, wear masks and minimise use of private vehicles to curb the increasing pollution in the city. They have also advised people to avoid outdoor activites in the coming days.
The CPCB-led tas force also recommended closure of all construction activities involving excavation, civil construction, stone crushers, hot mix plants that generate dust pollution during November 1 to 10.
Other measures included the shutdown of coal and biomass-based industries (excluding thermal and waste-to-energy plants) from November 4 to 10, intensification of efforts by transport department to check polluting vehicles and controlling traffic congestion in Delhi-NCR between November 1 and 10, according to the minutes of the meeting.
The task force also recommended efforts to provide uninterrupted power supply in NCR areas to avoid the requirement of operating diesel generator (DG) sets.
The task force said that at the beginning of November, the situation may get deteriorate further on account of localised emissions during festival and regional contribution due to stubble burning.
Stubble burning from Punjab, Haryana contributed to 32% of pollution in Delhi on Saturday: SAFAR
STUBBLE BURNING FROM PUNJAB, HARYANA CONTRIBUTED TO 32% OF POLLUTION IN DELHI: SAFAR
The report, which analyses the impact of pollutant PM2.5, showed that the highest contribution since October 11 by stubble burning was seen on Friday at 36 per cent.
Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana contributed to 32 per cent of Delhi's overall pollution on Saturday, according to a report by the Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).
The report, which analyses the impact of pollutant PM2.5, showed that the highest contribution since October 11 by stubble burning was seen on Friday at 36 per cent.
On Saturday, about 32 per cent of pollution by PM2.5 was caused by stubble burning by farmers in Punjab and Haryana, it said.
The report said that the stubble burning contribution to pollution will significantly reduce in the next two days.
"Only 19 per cent pollution of PM2.5 would be caused by stubble burning on Sunday. Stubble burning would contribute to 15 per cent PM2.5 per cent pollution on Monday," an official with the SAFAR said.
"On Thursday and Friday more stubble was burnt in Punjab and Haryana due to which its contribution to PM2.5 pollution increased," the official said, adding that the impact of pollution by stubble burning on the national capital could be seen only a day after the stubble is burnt.
"Pollution would reduce in the next couple of days if the weather condition remains same. The weather conditions include wind direction, temperature etc," he said.
The report also analysed the trends of different factors causing pollution since 2010 and it said transport emission in the national capital has increased significantly at 41 per cent in the last eight years.
POLLUTION CONTROL BODY ASKS TO HALT ALL CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES FROM NOVEMBER 1 IN DELHI
It has been recommended that measures to curb dust generation and stringent checks on pollution vehicles should roll out from November 1, and biomass-based, coal-based industries should close from November 4.
A task force of the Central Pollution Control Board has recommended Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority to order closure of all dust generating activities, biomass-based and coal-based industries and ramping up of checks on polluting vehicles across Delhi-NCR from November 1.
It has been recommended that measures to curb dust generation and stringent checks on pollution vehicles should roll out from November 1, and biomass-based, coal-based industries should close from November 4. A restriction on dust generating activities will mean that construction sites, excavation of roads and repair works will have to halt.
The EPCA is the implementing authority of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and issues directions on emergency response measures to tackle air pollution as per the severity of pollution.
CPCB's task force comprises of members from India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi Pollution Control Committee and State Pollution Control Board's of NCR states.
CPCB's task force comprises of members from India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi Pollution Control Committee and State Pollution Control Board's of NCR states.
Delhi's air quality index (AQI) touched its worst this winter on Friday as it plunged to 361, in the very poor category. However, CPCB officials said that in light of a forecast of unfavourable meteorological conditions, it is likely to worsen.
CPCB officials also said that so far, this October has seen an improvement in air quality over 2017 and there have been more 'poor' category days whereas 2017 saw more 'very poor' and 'severe' category days.
CPCB TO INITIATE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION FOR NON-COMPLIANCE OF ANTI-POLLUTION DIRECTIVES, SAYS UNION ENVIRONMENT MINISTER HARSH VARDHAN
Harsh Vardhan said a warning will be issued to the agency or the polluter concerned within 48 hours of a complaint being posted on the ministry's Sameer app by CPCB teams.
As the average air quality in the national capital region inched towards severe levels, Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said Saturday the government has decided to initiate criminal prosecution against agencies which do not comply with the directives to check air pollution.
"It is disheartening to know that the agencies are not following up on the complaints received on air pollution and the feedback that we have received from the teams is that the compliance rate is very poor. So we have decided to initiate criminal prosecution against such agencies or polluters. The modalities of the entire procedure will be worked out by the CPCB in the next couple of days," Harsh Vardhan said.
"It doesn't matter how big an agency or how influential its official is, the CPCB will not be hesitant to initiate criminal prosecution against them. No laxity will be tolerated and we will not allow anyone to play with the health of people," he said.
Under the Environment Protection Act, there is a provision enabling regulatory agencies such as CPCB, state pollution boards to proceed with criminal prosecution in such matters. The provision includes fine, imprisonment or both.
Harsh Vardhan said a warning will be issued to the agency or the polluter concerned within 48 hours of a complaint being posted on the ministry's Sameer app by CPCB teams. If the polluter or the agency fails to take corrective measures within the next 48 hours, the CPCB will initiate criminal prosecution, he added.
However, he said, the time limit may vary depending on the seriousness of the complaint.
He said the number of CPCB teams has been increased from 41 to 50 and instead of two days, they will go on field inspections five days a week.
Currently 41 teams have been deployed in Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida, Gurgaon and Faridabad to monitor dust mitigation and air pollution abatement activities.
Harsh Vardhan appealed to state governments in the NCR region, including Delhi, to give special attention to efforts to address the issue of air pollution and urged people to participate in the fight.
He said the Centre, in collaboration with the Delhi government, will soon launch a week-long campaign to combat air pollution in the capital. In February, a similar 15-day "Clean Air for Delhi" campaign was organised.
Harsh Vardhan said his ministry has called a meeting of all concerned agencies of Delhi and neighbouring cities on Monday to sensitise them about the issue and officially inform them about the decisions taken at Saturday's meeting.
