Delhi AQI: Air quality improves a bit but remains in 'very poor' category; here are latest updates
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered "good," 51-100 "satisfactory," 101-200 "moderate," 201-300 "poor," 301-400 "very poor," 401-450 "severe," and above 450 "severe plus", as per the CPCB.
Delhi's air quality improved a bit on Wednesday but still remained under ' very poor' category at around 9 PM. The worst air quality was recorded in areas like Bawana, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
Images: PTI
Air Quality Index
Here's a look at the latest updates on Delhi's AQI and restrictions due to poor air quality.
Schools operating in hybrid mode
The administration has decided to run schools in hybrid mode due to air pollution in Delhi-NCR.
AQI categories
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered "good," 51-100 "satisfactory," 101-200 "moderate," 201-300 "poor," 301-400 "very poor," 401-450 "severe," and above 450 "severe plus", as per the CPCB.
What are the reasons for air pollution?
Pollution is mostly caused by increased haze and stubble-burning incidences.
Grap 4: Supreme Court decision
The Supreme Court refused to relax the stringent curbs against air pollution under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Government's initiatives to curb air pollution
Ban on construction
GRAP-4 implementation
Promoting public transport
Promoting balanced diet
Sprinkling water on roads
And others
AQI in various areas in Delhi at 9 pm
According to the National Air Quality Index, the AQI is as follows in these areas:
Anand Vihar: 320
Bawana: 343
IGI Airport: 287
R K Puram: 322
Patparganj: 318
Rohini: 340
Sonia Vihar: 320
Jahangirpuri: 325
When was the GRAP implemented first?
The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was first implemented in 2017.
Centre spent Rs 3,623 crore
The Centre has spent Rs 3,623.45 crore on crop residue management, since 2018, in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh informed in the Lok Sabha today.
Fund allocation
Punjab has been allocated the highest amount of Rs 1,681.45 crore, followed by Haryana with Rs 1,081.71 crore. Uttar Pradesh was allocated Rs 763.67 crore, NCT of Delhi Rs 6.05 crore, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) got Rs 83.35 crore, according to the figures tabled in the Lower House.
Usage of funds
The funds have been used to subsidise crop residue management machinery and set up custom hiring centres (CHCs) to curb stubble burning and promote sustainable practices, the minister told the Lower House.
With agencies inputs