Page 22 - Air Pollution

Severe pollution grips Delhi; AQI more than doubles in four days to 445

The sudden deterioration coincides with a rise in minimum temperatures, which have increased by 2°C in the past 24 hours

Gurugram DC orders strict implementation of GRAP IV as air quality worsens

Gurugram DC Ajay Kumar has ordered officials to strictly implement the restrictions of GRAP 4 due to increasing air pollution. As per the order, many restrictions have been imposed, including change in office timings of government employees, work from home in private institutions, classes in hybrid mode in schools, ban on construction and demolition activities. As per the orders issued by the DC, employees in all government offices will come to the office at 9:30 in the morning and will render their services till 5:30 in the evening. In all municipal bodies, the timings would be from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The DC has issued an advisory for all private institutions to work from home till further orders. In compliance with the restrictions of GRAP 4, instructions were given to conduct classes in hybrid mode in all schools except classes 10th and 12th. "Under the restrictions of GRAP 4, there will be a ban on public and private construction and demolition activities including highways an

Grap-IV in Delhi-NCR: What stays open, what shuts amid pollution curbs

Construction has been suspended, truck entry restricted, schools shifted to hybrid learning, and offices are running at 50 per cent capacity as Delhi air quality worsens amid stagnant winds

Air quality panel invokes Grap 4 in Delhi as air quality turns 'severe'

The Centre's air quality panel for Delhi-NCR on Monday invoked stringent measures under Stage 4 of the air pollution control plan as the region's air quality turned "severe" due to unfavourable meteorological conditions, according to an official order. The curbs under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for winters include a ban on all construction and demolition activities, including public projects such as highways and flyovers, and on the entry of trucks carrying non-essential goods into Delhi. Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index, which was 379 at 4 pm, breached the 400 mark around 10 pm amid extremely calm winds and "buildup of an inversion layer adversely affecting the vertical mixing height". Vertical mixing height is the height above the surface throughout which a pollutant can be dispersed.

Education dept orders Delhi schools to hold classes upto V in hybrid mode

In view of the implementation of restrictive measures under GRAP III, the Delhi Directorate of Education (DoE) on Monday directed all school administrations to conduct classes for students up to Class V in hybrid mode. In a circular, the DoE stated, "All heads of government, government-aided, unaided recognised private schools of DoE, NDMC, MCD and Delhi Cantonment Board are directed to conduct classes for students up to Class V in a 'hybrid mode,' wherever online learning is feasible, with immediate effect until further orders." The Delhi's air quality deteriorated, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 379 on Monday, placing it in the "very poor" category. This marks a sharp rise from Sunday's reading of 294 in the "poor" category. Under Stage three of the Graded Response Action Plan measures, restrictions now include a ban on petrol vehicles that do not meet BS-III emission standards and diesel vehicles that fail to comply with BS-IV norms from entering the city. Previous

GRAP III restriction in Delhi, inflation, and more

GRAP-III restrictions have been reimposed in Delhi and the national capital region due to "unfavourable weather conditions, including calm winds and low mixing height," the Commission for Air Quality

Centre revises air pollution control plan for Delhi-NCR, tightens curbs

The Centre's panel on Delhi-NCR air quality has issued a revised plan to tackle winter pollution, asking states to implement stricter measures when the air quality deteriorates and making it mandatory for schools to shift to hybrid learning on days with severe air pollution. Poor air quality, driven by unfavourable weather conditions, usually persists for long periods during winter, from November to January. During this time, Delhi frequently enforces restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which categorises air quality into four stages: Stage I (Poor) with AQI between 201 and 300, Stage II (Very Poor) between 301 and 400, Stage III (Severe) between 401 and 450, and Stage IV (Severe Plus) for AQI above 450. According to the revised plan, inter-state buses from NCR states, except those EVs and those running CNG or BS-VI diesel, will not be allowed to enter Delhi under Stage II. This provision earlier came into effect under Stage III. Resident welfare associations

Respiratory drug sales surge as pollution, monsoon drive higher demand

Sales in the respiratory market reached Rs 1,638 crore in November 2024, up from Rs 1,522 crore recorded in October 2024, amid a surge in pollution-related illnesses last month

New study: PM2.5 air pollution in India leads to 1.5 million deaths a year

A groundbreaking study links PM2.5 pollution to 1.5 million annual deaths in India, urging nationwide action to tackle the health crisis caused by poor air quality

Pollution levels drop across India; only 3 cities report 'very poor' AQI

Delhi's air quality witnessed a remarkable turnaround over the weekend, driven by fast winds and light rainfall, resulting in one of the cleanest starts to December in years

204 projects face actions, 35 get closure notice for violating Grap norms

A total of 260 sites were flagged for dust violations, 204 faced Environmental Clearance action, and 35 received closure orders under the Graded Response Action Plan to combat Delhi's hazardous air quality, officials said on Tuesday. Authorities took action against 775 illegal dumping sites, sealed 259 diesel generators, and addressed more than 24,000 complaints during the peak implementation period, they said. In their ongoing efforts to combat severe pollution levels, Delhi's environmental bodies have enforced stringent measures under various stages of the GRAP. According to official data, in the construction and demolition (C&D) sector, 6,741 sites (=500 sqm) were inspected for compliance with dust mitigation norms, of which 260 were found non-compliant and flagged. Environmental Clearance was imposed on 204 projects (=500 sqm), while 35 projects were issued closure orders, officials said. Additionally, 974 inspections were carried out to identify illegal dumping sites, ...

Delhi's AQI remains 'poor', can Grap-IV restrictions be reintroduced?

Today, most areas across Delhi reported the "poor" quality air, however a few locations also recorded the "moderate" air quality

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After brief respite, Delhi's air quality slips back to 'poor' with 233 AQI

After a brief respite of three days, Delhi's air quality dropped again to the 'poor' category on Saturday. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) of the city was recorded at 233 at 4 pm on Saturday, marking a deterioration from Friday's reading of 197, which fell in the 'moderate' category. The primary pollutants on Saturday were PM2.5 and PM10, with PM2.5 levels recorded at 93.2 g/m and PM10 levels at 185.4 g/m at 2 pm. These fine particles pose significant health risks as they can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Of the 38 air quality monitoring stations in the city, two reported air quality in the 'very poor' category on Saturday, 30 were in the 'poor' category, and the rest recorded 'moderate' air quality, according to the Sameer app. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, air quality in the city will likely remain in the 'poor' category on Sunday and Monday, while it is expected to deteriorate to 'very poor' on Tuesday. The

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As CAQM revokes Grap-4, Delhi schools to resume classes in physical mode

In line with the CAQM's directive to revoke Grap-IV and Grap-III, the Delhi government's Directorate of Education issued an order to resume all classes in all schools to be held in physical mode

Centre's air quality panel revokes Grap stage 4 curbs in Delhi-NCR

Delhiites breathed cleaner air for the second consecutive day on Thursday as the AQI was recorded in the "moderate" category with a reading of 165. Restrictions under Stage 4 of the GRAP were lifted and replaced with the Stage-2 measures. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) of the city was recorded at 165 at 4 pm, registering a slight improvement from 178 on Wednesday. It marks a significant improvement as on Tuesday, the AQI was recorded in the "poor" category with a reading of 268, compared to 280 on Monday and 285 on Sunday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) data. For the month of December, the city has not seen such clean air since December 14, 2022, when the AQI was 163. In comparison, the lowest AQI recorded in December 2023 was 286, according to the CPCB. The Supreme Court allowed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to shift to the Stage-2 restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Thursday. As a result, severa

Delhi's AQI improves to 161, pollution relief to continue for 2-3 days

Delhi's AQI came down to the 'moderate' category on Wednesday evening, with this period of relief expected to continue for the next two to three days

Delhi breathes easy after gap of 50 days, AQI in 'moderate' category

Delhi breathed clean air on Wednesday after a gap of 50 days as the air quality was recorded in the 'moderate' category, offering much-needed respite from the high levels of pollution. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) of the city was recorded at 178 at 4 pm, registering an improvement from 268 on Tuesday. Earlier, the AQI was recorded in the 'moderate' category with a reading of 198 on October 15. However, the AQI had deteriorated and shifted to the 'poor' category the following day, according to Central Pollution Control Board data. Speaking about the improved air quality, an official of the India Meteorological Department said strong surface winds were forecast in the city on Wednesday. The winds will blow till December 7 when a new western disturbance is expected, which will lead to moderate fog starting December 8. Of the 38 air quality monitoring stations in the city, only Sri Aurobindo Marg reported air quality in the 'very poor' category on Wednesday, while eight

NGT issues notice to Centre on persistent air pollution crisis in Delhi

The National Green Tribunal has sought a response from the Centre on the "persistent air pollution crisis" in the national capital. The NGT was hearing the matter where it had taken suo motu (on its own) cognisance of a media report based on a study about the reasons for air pollution being emissions from thermal plants and the prevailing weather conditions. In an order passed on November 27, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said, "As per the article, a recent study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) has revealed that thermal power plants in the region are responsible for emitting 16 times more air pollution than the pollution caused by stubble burning." The bench also comprising judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel said that at present, Delhi was facing a "persistent air pollution crisis, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) (recently) reaching an alarming 488, falling under the severe plus category." It