Delhi chokes as air quality remains 'severe', LG calls urgent meeting with Kejriwal

Restrictions have been imposed on diesel and petrol vehicles operating in and around Delhi.

Delhi’s air quality continued to be “severe” on November 4 morning, with the emergency measures doing little to clear the toxic haze that hung over the national capital, forcing primary schools to remain shut for the second day and construction work to stop.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 413, which falls under the severe category.

Anand Vihar station, Punjabi Bagh station and Mundka station recorded AQI levels in the “severe” category, which is above 400, CPCB data shows.

The concentration of PM2.5, which is known to enter the blood stream and cause respiratory and cardiovascular stress, has exceeded the safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic metre by seven to eight times across various locations.

The “airpocalypse” prompted Delhi L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena to call for an urgent meeting with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as Delhi continues to breathe a toxic cocktail. The meeting is likely at 6 pm.

The Delhi government on November 3 banned non-essential construction work and shut down primary schools as AQI went past the 500 mark in some places. In the Anand Vihar area it reached an alarming 999 at night.

Restrictions have been imposed on diesel and petrol vehicles operating in and around Delhi.

Government agencies warn that pollution could worsen in the National Capital Region over the next 15-20 days due to a surge in farm fires in neighbouring states along with an expected drop in temperature and airspeed.

On November 2, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked a set of restrictions in the NCR under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

The GRAP sub-committee after an assessment determined that the air quality situation was expected to worsen and hence implemented Stage III of GRAP, designated for “severe” air quality (AQI > 400).

In a meeting with LG, environment minister Gopal Rai sought action against the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) chairman, alleging he had closed the Smog Tower and the Real-Time Source Apportionment System without obtaining the cabinet’s apporval.

During a late-night inspection at Anand Vihar bus terminus, Rai expressed concerns about the deteriorating air quality. He blamed the BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles coming from Uttar Pradesh for contributing to the pollution. He urged the Uttar Pradesh government to discontinue sending these banned vehicles to Delhi, where only electric and CNG-powered buses were allowed.