Delhi-NCR Pollution: Air quality dips to 'severe' zone for first time this season

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that schools, both private and government, will be shut today and tomorrow (November 3 and 4) in light of the hazardous levels of air pollution as the national capital region is engulfed in a thick blank of smog in the lead up to the winter months.

The National Capital has gone into a state of emergency as the air quality of New Delhi, and neighbouring areas, has nosedived into the 'severe' category. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced the closure of both private and government schools for today and tomorrow (November 3 and 4) due to the hazardous levels of air pollution, as the region is shrouded in thick smog in anticipation of the winter season. The Kejriwal government has also imposed a ban on non-essential construction activities, and no BS-3 petrol and BS-4 diesel cars are permitted to operate on the roads of Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar.

On November 3 morning, the national capital recorded an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 346, which puts it in the ‘very poor’ category, with some areas within the city having an ever poorer AQI score; the Lodhi Road area had an AQI score of 438, Jahangirpuri was at 491, RK Puram area at 486, and the IGI Airport (T3) at 473.

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The government has also banned the entry of diesel trucks into the NCR in an effort to curb pollution. The authorities also plan to introduce several other measures as part of Stage III of the Graded Action Response Plan (GRAP).

The spike in air pollution comes at a time when the neighbouring agriculture state of Punjab saw a 740 per cent increase in farm fires. Reports based on satellite pictures suggest that nearly 1,068 fires were reported on Sunday, October 29, which is the highest in a single day during the current harvesting season. This saw many areas in the national capital breach their AQI score of 400+, which is considered 'severe'. AQI score of 400+ can negatively impact the health of healthy individuals and those with existing illnesses.

Also Read: Delhi Metro to run 20 extra train trips across its network from November 3: DMRC after GRAP-III imposition

Here are a few pointers that have been collated based on media reports:

* Gurugram District Magistrate has banned burning waste materials, such as garbage, leaves, plastic, and rubber under a law that makes it a punishable offence.

* Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has called a meeting on November 3 to discuss the implementation of stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan. "A meeting of all concerned departments has been called on Friday at 12 noon to discuss the effective implementation of stage III of GRAP," he was quoted by ANI.

* The national capital's pollution levels have now hit the "severe" mark today, November 3, for the first time this season. Health experts have warned of a further spike over the next two weeks. At least 18 out of 37 monitoring stations in Delhi recorded Air Quality Index (AQI) in the "severe" category.

* Areas where AQI breached the 400-mark: Anand Vihar (450), Bawana (452), Burari Crossing (408), Dwarka Sector 8 (445), Jahangirpuri (433), Mundka (460), NSIT Dwarka (406), Najafgarh (414), Narela (433), Nehru Nagar (400), New Moti Bagh (423), Okhla Phase 2 (415), Patparganj (412), Punjabi Bagh (445), R K Puram (417), Rohini (454), Shadipur (407) and Wazirpur (435).

* According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi's air quality in the month of October has been at its worst since 2020. Meteorologists have attributed this record low air quality to a lack of rain.