Page 25 - Air Pollution

Supreme Court flags 'wrong approach' in enforcing anti-pollution curbs

The Bench questioned the Delhi government and the CAQM over the delay in invoking pollution preventive measures under Grap stages

Physical classes in Delhi schools, DU to be suspended due to air pollution

Delhi University would shift to online classes till November 23, the varsity announced amid worsening air quality levels in the city. The decision comes as the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) has reached "alarmingly high" levels, prompting concerns about health and safety. Delhi's had an AQI reading of 494 at 4 pm. In a notification, the university stated, "In the larger interest of students of the colleges and the departments of the University of Delhi, it has been decided that the classes shall be conducted in online mode till Saturday the 23rd November, 2024. Regular classes in physical mode to resume from Monday, the 25th November 2024." The schedule of examinations and interviews, however, remains unchanged, it said. The Delhi government has termed the worsening air quality a "medical emergency" and urged institutions to take preventive measures to safeguard public health. The city's air pollution has been exacerbated by weather conditio

Delhi govt to act on 'odd-even' scheme based on expert advice: Gopal Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the government is taking all necessary measures to tackle air pollution and will implement additional steps, including the odd-even vehicle rationing scheme, based on expert advice and requirements. Addressing a press conference here as the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital breached the "severe-plus" category with a reading of 494, Rai said the Delhi government is taking all necessary steps to address the situation. In response to a question about the odd-even scheme, he said, "From our side, the Delhi government is taking all the necessary steps at our level. We are monitoring everything closely and making decisions on a daily basis. We will consult experts and take all required measures." Delhi recorded its second-worst air quality in six years on Monday. Fifteen monitoring stations saw AQI levels reaching the maximum limit of 500. The city's 24-hour AQI, recorded at 4 pm, was the highest in the country, up from 441 the ...

Air emergency in Delhi: AQI exceeds 1,500; smog halts life, schools closed

According to Swiss air technology firm IQAir, AQI readings across Delhi ranged from 1,300 to 1,600 on Monday morning

Delhi chokes due to severe-plus air pollution; GRAP-IV restrictions imposed

Delhi woke up to severe-plus AQI category on November 18, necessitating the imposition of GRAP Stage-IV restrictions to curb severe air pollution levels in the national capital.

'Politics on pollution': Atishi blames Centre as Delhi gasps for air

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi blamed farm fires in neighboring states - excluding Punjab, where her party also governs - for the capital's air crisis

Delhi's AQI turns 'severe plus', Grap Stage IV rules kick in: Key points

The pollution control board has recommended state governments to consider closing colleges, restricting non-essential commercial activities, and introducing odd-even vehicle rules

GRAP Stage-4 restrictions to come into force from Monday in Delhi-NCR

The Centre's air quality panel has announced stricter pollution control measures for the Delhi-NCR under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), effective from 8 am on Monday, including a ban on truck entry and a temporary halt on construction at public projects. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued the order as Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) worsened, reaching 441 at 4 pm and rising to 457 by 7 pm due to unfavourable weather conditions. According to the order, no trucks will be allowed into Delhi except for those carrying essential items or using clean fuel (LNG/CNG/BS-VI diesel/electric). Non-essential light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi will also be prohibited, except for EVs and CNG and BS-VI diesel ones. Delhi-registered BS-IV or older diesel medium and heavy goods vehicles are banned, except for those in essential services, the panel said. All construction activities, including highways, roads, flyovers, power lines, pipelines an

Delhi govt seizes over 2,200 overage vehicles to combat air pollution

The Delhi Transport Department has impounded 2,234 overage vehicles between October 1 and November 15 as part of an ongoing drive. The initiative, launched last month, aims to address the deteriorating air quality in the national capital. According to official data, the seized vehicles include 260 diesel four-wheelers that are over 10 years old, alongside 1,156 petrol two-wheelers and 818 petrol three and four-wheelers, all older than 15 years. The campaign, which is set to continue until December, is part of a broader effort to enforce environmental regulations and reduce vehicular emissions. In tandem with the crackdown, the Transport Department has rolled out an online portal to facilitate the scrapping, retrieval, or sale of seized vehicles. The platform is designed to streamline the process, providing owners with a clear Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for managing overage vehicles. The Transport Department has also issued directives to Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facili

SC to hear plea seeking measures to curb air pollution in Delhi on Nov 18

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a plea seeking enforcement of measures to curb air pollution in the national capital. Delhi woke up to toxic air conditions on Sunday as the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded in the "severe" category. The AQI stood at 429 at 9 am, according to the 'Sameer App', which provides hourly updates from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The 24-hour average AQI was recorded at 417 at 4 pm on Saturday. As per the cause list of November 18 uploaded on the apex court website, a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih is slated to hear the plea. On November 14, the top court had agreed to urgently list the plea after it was told that Delhi should not become the most polluted city in the world due to the rising pollution. The bench had agreed to list the matter after senior advocate Aparajita Singh, who has been assisting the apex court as an amicus curiae in the matter, requested for urgent hearing looking at the ..

Delhi battles hazardous air as Grap III, vehicle bans come into effect

Experts have recommended limiting outdoor activities, especially for vulnerable groups such as children, senior citizens, and individuals with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions

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Air quality worsens in more areas of Delhi, over Rs 5.85 cr fine imposed

Delhi's air quality worsened further on Saturday, with many areas in the "severe" category, even as authorities intensified their action by imposing penalties of around Rs 5.85 crore on the first day of anti-pollution measures under the third stage of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The city's 24-hour Air Quality Index (AQI), recorded at 4 pm daily, stood at 417, making it the worst in the country. On Friday, the AQI level was 396. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the "severe" category air poses risks to healthy individuals and severely impacts those with existing health conditions. Out of Delhi's 39 monitoring stations, data shared by the CPCB showed that all except for Sri Aurobindo Marg reported air quality in the "severe" category, with AQI levels above 400. Following Delhi, Jind in Haryana recorded the second-worst air quality with a reading of 394, while Bahadurgarh, also in the neighbouring state, ranked third with a reading of 388. An AQI betwee

Delhi traffic police slaps fines totalling Rs 1 cr for Grap-3 violations

Delhi Traffic Police has issued around 550 challans, imposing a total fine of over Rs one crore, to BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles on Friday on the first day of the ban on these vehicles under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) III in the national capital, officials said. According to police, they have also issued challans to 4,855 vehicles imposing a total of Rs 4.8 crore in fines for not having Pollution Under Control Certificates (PUCC) in the national capital on Friday. A fine of Rs 10,000 is imposed on motorists for not having a valid pollution under control (PUC) certificate. These challans get released from courts. Private BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles were banned from roads with violations inviting a penalty of Rs 20,000. Diesel and petrol inter-state buses from the NCR cities to Delhi are also banned. A senior police officer said that they have issued a total of 293 challans for BS-III and BS-IV vehicles in the eastern, central and northern ranges of

Delhi gasps as air quality remains hazardous; govt tightens Grap III curbs

Delhi government enforces a ban on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers under Grap-III from Friday, violators will face fine up to Rs 20,000

COP29: Shanghai, Tokyo, NY spew most greenhouse gas of world cities

Cities in Asia and the United States emit the most heat-trapping gas that feeds climate change, with Shanghai the most polluting, according to new data that combines observations and artificial intelligence. Seven states or provinces spew more than 1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases, all of them in China, except Texas, which ranks sixth, according to new data from an organisation co-founded by former US Vice President Al Gore and released Friday at the United Nations climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan. Nations at the talks are trying to set new targets to cut such emissions, and figure out how much rich nations will pay to help the world with that task. Using satellite and ground observations, supplemented by artificial intelligence to fill in gaps, Climate Trace sought to quantify heat-trapping carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, as well as other traditional air pollutants worldwide, including for the first time in more than 9,000 urban areas. Earth's total carbon ...

Truck drivers concerned over livelihood as GRAP-III now effective in Delhi

With the air quality index (AQI) in Delhi worsening and hovering in the severe category, the CAQM on Thursday ordered to invoke Stage III of the GRAP in Delhi NCR with effect from 8 am of November 15

Media spotlight on Delhi hides severe pollution in smaller Indian cities

Delhi grabs 80% of pollution coverage, while smaller cities like Hapur (AQI 361) and Meerut (AQI 377) face dangerous air but remain media blind spots, shows Wizikey report

106 additional buses, 60 extra trips by metros to combat pollution in Delhi

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday said an additional 106 cluster buses would ply in the city while metro trains would make 60 extra trips in view of GRAP-3 measures imposed due to worsening air quality. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has imposed GRAP 3 measures as the national capital recorded the worst pollution levels in the country, with the air quality remaining in the "severe" category for two consecutive days. On Friday the city's air quality was in the severe category with an AQI of 411 at 9 am. Delhi Environment Minister, addressing a press conference said that the Air Quality Index (AQI), which has consistently crossed hazardous levels, led to the enforcement of GRAP-3. "We are working to make GRAP-3 more effective in Delhi," the minister said, adding that a meeting was held with officials from MCD, PWD, transport, DTC, metro, and education departments to review and implement urgent measures. As part of the action plan, the Delhi government

Online learning in Delhi schools up to Class 5 due to pollution: CM Atishi

All schools up to Class 5 in Delhi will switch to online learning till further directions in view of rising pollution levels in the city, Chief Minister Atishi said on Thursday. With pollution reaching alarming levels, the central pollution watchdog CAQM imposed restrictions under GRAP Stage III in Delhi-NCR earlier on Thursday. The national capital's air quality remained in the 'severe' category for a second consecutive day, prompting the authorities to impose the stringent anti-pollution measures. The restrictions will come into force from Friday. "Due to rising pollution levels, all primary schools in Delhi will be shifting to online classes, until further directions," Atishi, who also holds the education portfolio, said in a post on X. Measures under the third stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) announced by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) include shifting schools up to Class 5 to online mode. GRAP for the National Capital Region (NCR) is classifi