News Mania / Piyal Chatterjee / 22nd October 2024
The second phase of the anti-pollution plan GRAP has been activated this morning by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) due to the deteriorating air quality index (AQI) in Delhi over the last few days.
The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) provides real-time statistics, and at 8 am, Delhi’s AQI was 317, falling into the “very poor” category. Good AQIs range from 0 to 50, satisfactory AQIs range from 51 to 100, moderate AQIs range from 101 to 200, bad AQIs range from 201 to 300, very poor AQIs range from 301 to 400, severe AQIs range from 401 to 450, and severe-plus AQIs fall above 450.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has anticipated that, due to unfavorable climatic and meteorological circumstances, Delhi’s daily average AQI will remain in the “very poor” category for the foreseeable future. Delhi’s increased pollution levels are frequently attributed to stubble burning in nearby Haryana and Punjab, particularly in the months of October and November following harvest.
In the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), the usage of diesel generator sets and coal and firewood would be restricted under stage two of the Graded Response Action Plan, or GRAP.
Dust management procedures will be implemented at building and demolition sites, and designated routes will also undergo daily mechanical sweeping and water sprinkling. In addition, more bus and subway services will be launched, traffic officers will be stationed during traffic jams, and parking prices will be raised to deter private transportation.
It has been suggested that people use public transportation more often and drive their own cars less. They have also been encouraged to refrain from participating in dust-producing construction activities from October through January and to change their car’s air filters on a regular basis. Additionally, residents of Delhi-NCR have been warned not to burn biomass and solid trash in the open.
The GRAP Stage 1 measures, which have been in place since October 15, are supplemented by these actions. In addition to dust reduction at building sites, Stage 1 involves periodic mechanized sweeping and water sprinkling on highways. Additionally, there are restrictions on the use of diesel generators and the open burning of garbage, as well as the use of coal and firewood in restaurants.
