Delhi air pollution: The report underscores that the annual PM2.5 standard in India is set at 40 micrograms per cubic metre, yet more than 40 per cent of the population is exposed to air that exceeds this limit.
This improvement in air quality is a rare occurrence for Delhi, which typically battles high levels of pollutants, especially during the winter months when vehicular emissions, industrial activities, and construction dust combine with unfavourable weather conditions to deteriorate the air quality.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari addressed two public meetings in West Delhi and New Delhi Lok Sabha constituencies. He asked people to vote for BJP asserting that the growth story in last 10 years was just a trailer of what lies ahead.
A bench of Justices A S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan called for the immediate measures to be undertaken to ensure that the quantity of untreated solid waste does not increase till proper facilities are put in place to treat them.
Over 40 per cent of the posts in the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and pollution control bodies in the neighbouring states including Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh are lying vacant, according to a report by the Central Pollution Control Board.
In 2022, India was placed at the eighth spot in the list of most polluted countries with an average PM2.5 concentration of 53.3 micrograms per cubic metre.
GRAP Stage III had initially imposed restrictions on all construction and demolition activities, excluding only essential government projects, mining, and stone crushing. The recent decision removes these limitations.
The restrictions under Stage III of anti-pollution measures have been reimposed in the Delhi-National Capital Region due to the deterioration of air quality into the severe category.
Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj accuses officials of disregarding ministerial orders, suggesting a deliberate mismanagement strategy by the central government. This repeats a previous shutdown resolved by a Supreme Court directive.
This decision was after the Central government's withdrawal of anti-pollution measures under stage-III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR with immediate effect. The CAQM had invoked actions under GRAP Stage-III last year on December 22 amid deteriorating air quality in Delhi.
The commission has asked agencies to keep strict vigil and especially intensify measures under Stage-I and II of GRAP in order to obviate the implementation of Stage-III of GITAP actions.
At Safdarjung, Delhi's primary weather station, visibility was reported at 700 meters, while at Palam, it measured 1,200 meters, as per the India Meteorological Department. The Indian Railways reported delays of one to five hours for 21 Delhi-bound trains due to fog.
The National Capital Region (NCR), encompassing Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad, is experiencing 'severe'' pollution levels. Earlier this week, Delhi's air quality was categorized as 'Severe' on Monday morning with an AQI of 307 at nine o'clock.
Efforts are being made to tackle pollution and improve air quality in the region, amid ongoing concerns about the environmental impact on public health.
Despite a decrease in the total number of farm fires in Punjab and Haryana, Delhi has experienced elevated pollution levels this November.
Several areas in Delhi recorded 'Severe' air quality early in the morning on Monday while some others witnessed 'Very Poor' air quality.
Meawnhile, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan-3 will continue till air quality improves in the city.
Delhi woke up to fourth morning in a trot with 'Very Poor' air quality on Tuesday. The city's AQI has been hovering around the below 400 mark for the last few days.
The city has been witnessing air quality falling under the 'Very Poor' category for the last few days. Several areas in Delhi recorded AQI over 350 and some close to 400 this morning.
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