Delhi NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: As AQI crosses 450 in national capital region, authorities invoke GRAP III restrictions, deploy anti-smog guns
Delhi, NCR Air Pollution Live Updates, Delhi AQI Live News Today: New Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed the crucial 450 mark on Friday, triggering a host of restrictions and emergency measures including the third stage of the Centre's Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) guidelines, aimed at preventing further deterioration of poor air quality in the national capital. The worsening of air quality in New Delhi and its satellite cities including Noida and Gurugram also led to higher demand for air purifiers and breathing masks.
The third stage of GRAP measures came into force in the national capital on Thursday, restricting non-essential construction work, stone crushing and mining activities in the Delhi NCR. Restrictions were also imposed on the plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.
The air quality in New Delhi has turned from bad to worse over the past few days, leading to a dense haze engulfing the city and its surrounding areas. The weather office has warned that the level of PM2.5, a fine particulate matter capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory system and causing health problems, has exceeded the safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic metre by seven to eight times at multiple locations across the region. Meanwhile, health experts at both government and private hospitals have cautioned people against venturing out early morning for walks or other forms of exercise, and urged them to wear masks when stepping out for essential tasks.
Catch the latest news updates on the air quality in New Delhi and the satellite cities including Gurgaon, Noida, and Greater Noida in the states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh:
Delhi, NCR Air Pollution Live Updates, Delhi AQI Live News Today: New Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed the crucial 450 mark on Friday, triggering a host of restrictions and emergency measures including the third stage of the Centre's Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) guidelines, aimed at preventing further deterioration of poor air quality in the national capital. The worsening of air quality in New Delhi and its satellite cities including Noida and Gurugram also led to higher demand for air purifiers and breathing masks.
The third stage of GRAP measures came into force in the national capital on Thursday, restricting non-essential construction work, stone crushing and mining activities in the Delhi NCR. Restrictions were also imposed on the plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.
The air quality in New Delhi has turned from bad to worse over the past few days, leading to a dense haze engulfing the city and its surrounding areas. The weather office has warned that the level of PM2.5, a fine particulate matter capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory system and causing health problems, has exceeded the safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic metre by seven to eight times at multiple locations across the region. Meanwhile, health experts at both government and private hospitals have cautioned people against venturing out early morning for walks or other forms of exercise, and urged them to wear masks when stepping out for essential tasks.
Catch the latest news updates on the air quality in New Delhi and the satellite cities including Gurgaon, Noida, and Greater Noida in the states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh:
Latest Updates
Noida Authority enforcing GRAP compliance, with fines of Rs 48 lakh issued: CEO
Noida Authority CEO Lokesh M stated on Saturday that his department is following GRAP III standards and that non-essential building has been prohibited, emphasising that criminal action is being taken against individuals who violate anti-pollution norms.
Air pollution: CTI urges PM Modi to call emergency meeting of Delhi, UP, Punjab, Haryana govts
The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday to convene an emergency meeting with the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh due to "severe" air pollution in the national capital, according to CTI officials.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi's air quality index climbed by more than 200 points between October 27 and November 3, eventually falling into the "severe plus" category (over 450) on Friday. However, the 24-hour average AQI, which is measured at 4 pm every day, improved somewhat from 468 on Friday to 415 on Saturday.
Air quality deteriorates to'severe' in certain areas of Haryana and 'poor' in parts of Punjab
On Saturday evening, Fatehabad had an air quality index (AQI) of 464, followed by Faridabad at 439, Jind at 428, Kaithal 426, Hisar 425, Sonipat 414, Sirsa 414, Gurugram 410, Bahadurgarh 369, Kurukshetra 325, Rohtak 319, and Bhiwani 307.
Delhi environment minister seeks suspension of the officer who blocked the pollution tower project
On Saturday, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai wrote to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, requesting that Ashwani Kumar, chairman of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, be suspended for "arbitrarily halting" the operation of a large smog tower installed in Connaught Place two years ago to mitigate air pollution.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai explains why smog tower is shut
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai provided information about the closed smog tower.
Gopal Rai said, "Last evening when Delhi's AQI level was going up, we saw several BJP leaders going to Connaught Place-located smog tower and making videos...I thought it was important for the people in Delhi to know under what conspiracy the smog tower in Delhi was shut and who did it..."
“Violating all traditions, Central Government appointed Ashwani Kumar as the Chairman of DPCC (Delhi Pollution Control Committee)...Using his superpower, Ashwani Kumar violated Supreme Court order and stopped the payment for the study of smog tower...Following this, the agencies stopped the study and the smog tower was shut," Rai added.
Thousands of citizens are moving to adjacent Himachal Pradesh hill stations
Hundreds of Delhi residents are travelling to the adjacent Himachal Pradesh hill stations of Mcleodganj, Dharamshala, and Shimla this weekend to escape the national capital's terrible air pollution.
‘When AAP has their own govt in Punjab, they are blaming Noida, Gurugram, and Faridabad for air pollution…’: BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa
"Now, when AAP has their own government in Punjab, they are blaming Noida, Gurugram, and Faridabad for air pollution (in Delhi). They have money to spend in elections but they do not have money to spend on measures to control air pollution in Delhi. Arvind Kejriwal is busy with political tourism in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh when people of Delhi are gasping for breath," Sirsa said.
Sri Lanka cancels training amid air emergency in NCR
Following Bangladesh, Sri Lanka was forced to cancel their first training session on Saturday in the national capital due to "severe" air pollution.
Bangladesh, who got here on Wednesday, chose not to practise on Friday due to "severe plus" pollution conditions in the city.
When the Air Quality Index reached 407 in the morning on Saturday, Sri Lanka also decided to stay home.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), air quality in Delhi remains in the 'Severe' category
Delhi Minister Gopal Rai writes to Centre urging "ban on entry of vehicles non-compliant with BS-VI norms"
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai wrote a letter to Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, requesting him to ban the entry of vehicles non-compliant with BS-VI norms into Delhi from neighbouring states in Delhi-NCR.
He also requested to convene an emergency meeting of neighbouring states' Environment Ministers.
Gopal Rai said, "Looking at the rise in the level of pollution in the last two days, construction has been banned in Delhi from yesterday. Today there has been an improvement in the level of pollution as compared to yesterday. The situation is still serious. I am writing a letter to the Central Government saying that the Union Environment Minister should call an emergency meeting of the Environment Ministers of all five states immediately. Because the orders of CAQM are not being implemented in the states. Rules are being made, and CAQM is giving directions, but in the whole NCR, rules are being violated. This is the problem of the whole of North India. "
IMD blames lower temperatures for air pollution spike
"A combination of lower temperatures and still wind is one the cause for the rise in pollution level across the country," said India Meteorological Department (IMD) official, adding that once wind speed increases, the air quality is expected to improve.
Do you Know?
Air pollution kills more people in India than anywhere else in the world, according to a study.
AQI stood at 407
The air quality index (AQI) in the national capital stood at 407 at 9 am on Saturday.
Delhi AQI Update
National Capital recorded 'severe' air quality on Saturday morning while the minimum temperature settled at 16.6 degrees Celsius.
Delhi's poor air quality is affecting internal organs
With the AQI reaching the 'severe' category in many parts of Delhi-NCR, doctors and health experts have advised people to travel only when essential, saying the thick smog hanging over the city's air is having adverse effects on the internal organs of the human body.