Air quality in Delhi worsened further on Sunday, with the air quality index (AQI) near AIIMS and surrounding areas reaching 421, putting it in the ‘severe’ category, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
This deterioration in air quality comes after the average AQI was recorded at 245 across the city on Saturday, which falls in the ‘poor’ category. The increase reflects a sharp increase in pollution levels across Delhi within 24 hours.
According to CPCB data, several monitoring stations in the capital recorded air quality in the ‘severe’ category, while in some areas it remained at ‘very poor’ level.
At 8 am, AQI at major monitoring locations Anand Vihar (298), Alipur (258), Ashok Vihar (404), Chandni Chowk (414), Dwarka Sector-8 (407), ITO (312), Mandir Marg (367), Okhla Phase-2 (382), Patparganj (378), Punjabi Bagh (403), RK Puram (421), Lodhi Road (364), Rohini (415), and Sirifort (403). Most of these readings placed the city in the ‘severe’ or ‘very poor’ category.
Authorities have deployed water sprinklers on trucks and other dust control measures in several parts of the city to reduce rising pollution levels.
To control the deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has banned the entry of all BS-III and below standard commercial goods vehicles not registered in Delhi from November 1.
Speaking to ANI, Delhi Transport Enforcement Team sub-inspector Dharamveer Kaushik said, “BS-III vehicles are being sent back. They are not allowed to enter Delhi. This applies only to good vehicles; there is no restriction on passenger vehicles.”
Since Diwali, the air quality index (AQI) in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) has reached ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ categories in many areas, while Phase 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is still in effect.
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has already announced doubling of parking charges in the national capital after the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Phase II due to deteriorating air quality.
The decision, aimed at discouraging the use of private vehicles, will see parking charges doubled for off-road and indoor parking areas managed by NDMC.