Delhi's air quality still in 'severe' category, AQI at 404
Delhiites woke up to a thick layer of smog covering the national capital's skies again as the air quality on Friday morning remained in the "severe" category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the air quality index (AQI) in locations like RK Puram, Anand Vihar, Dwarka, and Indira Gandhi International Airport crossed the 400-mark at 5:00am in Delhi.
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The capital's AQI has been in the "very poor" or "severe" category for the past couple of weeks, largely due to lower temperatures and stubble burning. Despite implementing numerous anti-pollution measures by the central and Delhi governments, the air quality saw little improvement. After Diwali, the AQI drastically spiked in some areas in Delhi, reportedly nearing 1,000 on a scale where 500 is deemed hazardous.
Delhi-NCR also reported severe AQI on Friday morning
In the National Capital Region (NCR), Noida Sector 125 reported an AQI of 352, while Knowledge Park III in Greater Noida recorded an AQI of 314, according to the CPCB data. Over in Haryana's Gurugram, the air quality didn't see much of an improvement either, as Sector-51 reported an AQI of 444 at 5:00am on Friday.
Delhi government sets up 6-member STF to implement GRAP
On Thursday, Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced that the Delhi government had formed a six-member special task force to supervise the strict implementation of the measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Led by Delhi's special secretary (environment), the STF will include top officials from the departments of revenue, transport, traffic, the Public Works Department (PWD), and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
Delhi government considering ban on passenger buses
Moreover, reports also claimed that the Arvind Kejriwal administration is planning to ban passenger buses, except those running on CNG, electricity, and BS-VI diesel, from entering Delhi. This comes right after trucks were banned from entering the city previously. A source told PTI that implementing the ban is likely after the Chhath Puja amid the surge in traffic due to the festival.
