Page 44 - Air Pollution

As AQI turns 'serve' in Delhi, Centre bans non-essential construction work

The Centre's pollution control panel on Thursday issued directions to ban non-essential construction work in Delhi-NCR and the entry of diesel-guzzling trucks into the capital as the air quality in the city entered the 'severe' category. This action comes as part of Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) -- the Centre's air pollution control plan that is implemented in the region during the winter season. Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 402 at 5 pm. At a meeting to review the air quality situation in Delhi-NCR, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a statutory body responsible for developing strategies to combat pollution in the region, said that the pollution levels are only "expected to increase further" owing to unfavourable meteorological and climatic conditions. GRAP categorises actions into four stages: Stage I - 'Poor' (AQI 201-300); Stage II - 'Very Poor' (AQI 301-400); Stage III - 'Severe' (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV - 'Severe Plus' (AQI .

BMC plans to set up office to seek hyper local data to tackle air pollution

Mumbai's civic body is in the process of setting up a command and control centre to collect data using sensor-based air quality index (AQI) monitoring devices, an official said on Thursday. The proposal is in the "pipeline", an official told PTI, adding devices will be installed in various areas of the metropolis for "hyper local" information. He, however, said no formal proposal has been prepared in connection with the initiative. A day earlier Mumbai guardian minister Deepak Kesarkar had told reporters six technologies, including vehicle-mounted air filters, have been identified for reducing air pollution in the city. As many as 350 buses of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) will be fitted with "vehicle-mounted filters" for "removal of impurities" from dust and other particles, Kesarkar had said while addressing a press conference. As per the latest data of the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR-India), the overall AQI in Mumbai was

Next 15 days to remain crucial: Rai on deteriorating air quality in Delhi

"We need to work unitedly in order to curb the situation. Everyone needs to be aware of it", he said

Delhi-NCR air pollution today: Delhi's air turns hazardous, check updates

Delhi AQI remains in the very poor category. Low wind speed and continuous stubble burning are the key reasons behind poor air quality

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Mumbai govt identifies 6 technological measures to curb air pollution

Fitting vehicle-mounted air filters on 350 BEST buses, setting up virtual chimneys at traffic congestion spots, placing special streetlights and installing air purification systems in select gardens are some of the technological measures being identified to control air pollution in Mumbai. Among other measures and actions, the city civic body has ordered 30 vehicles mounted with sprinklers, also called fog cannons, while notices have been served to readymix concrete units, and industries have been directed to increase the height of chimneys, said Mumbai district guardian minister Deepak Kesarkar. He said there won't be a ban on bursting crackers but citizens should use their discretion and burst fewer crackers. "IIT (Bombay) has identified various companies and technology offered by them is used on a trial basis in Mumbai. The technology which proves effective in reducing pollution will be given priority. We have identified six technologies, including vehicles-mounted air filters,"

No fireworks in Delhi, Mumbai during World Cup matches as pollution worsens

The BCCI has banned the display of fireworks during the remaining World Cup games in Delhi and Mumbai due to worsening air quality in the two mega cities. Delhi has only one match left to host, the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka game on November 6, while Mumbai are scheduled to host two more league games, on November 2 and November 7, and the semifinal on November 15. BCCI is sensitive to environmental concerns. I took up the matter formally with the ICC and there won't be any fireworks display in Mumbai, which can add to the pollution level," said BCCI secretary Jay Shah in a statement on Wednesday. "The Board is committed to combating environmental issues and will always place the interest of our fans and stakeholders at the forefront. The BCCI acknowledges the urgent concern surrounding air quality in both Mumbai and New Delhi. "While we strive to host the ICC World Cup in a manner befitting the celebration of cricket, we remain steadfast in our commitment to prioritising the health and .

Delhi air 'very poor' for 2nd day, AQI at 347; Hanumangarh's worst at 428

From tomorrow, all the diesel buses running in Delhi-NCR coming from outside are being directed to run on alternative fuel

Blurry skyline: Businesses hold their breath in Mumbai's smog-choked skies

With project execution and commercial office operations unaffected, city hopes for its air troubles to blow over

Delhi's AQI remains 'very poor' for 3rd day, pollution turns 'severe'

The national capital's air quality remained 'very poor' for the third straight day as the pollution levels entered the 'severe' zone in parts of the city, weather data showed. The city saw a warm day on Monday with a maximum temperature of 33.5 degrees Celsius, three notches above the season's average, while the mercury settled at 16.2 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the year, the India Meteorological Department said. The city's 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 347 at 4 pm, worsening from 325 on Sunday, 304 on Saturday and 261 (poor) on Friday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Rohini (406), Wazirpur (416), and Mundka (414) recorded their air quality in the 'severe' zone (AQI above 400). The AQI was 272 in neighbouring Ghaziabad, 300 in Faridabad, 203 in Gurugram, 303 in Noida and 336 in Greater Noida. The city's air quality deteriorated to 'very poor' on October 28 due to slow wind speed at night and a dip in the temperatures

Delhi's AQI plunges to 322 in 'very poor' category, Kaithal's worst at 380

On Sunday, the national capital's AQI fell to 'very poor' category from 'poor' category at 309

Delhi's air quality plunges to 'very poor' category with the AQI at 309

According to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB's) daily bulletin, Delhi's AQI as of 4 PM on October 28 was 304. It was more than the 256 recorded on October 26

Centre has no concrete action plan to control pollution: AAP spokesperson

The AAP National Spokesperson said, "Currently, only the Kejriwal government in Delhi is taking strong measures to reduce air pollution by implementing winter and summer action plans

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Stubble burning contribution to Delhi's pollution likely to reduce: Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Saturday that the number of stubble burning incidents recorded in neighbouring states so far is fewer than last year, and the overall contribution of farm fires to the city's air pollution is expected to reduce. However, he cautioned that air pollution may increase in the coming days due to unfavourable meteorological conditions. Only around 2,500 stubble burning incidents have been recorded so far, compared to 5,000 such cases during the same period last year, he told reporters here. According to the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Punjab, which accounts for the maximum number of cases of stubble burning every year, reported 49,922 farm fires in 2022, compared to 71,304 the previous year and 83,002 in 2020. The agrarian state logged 50,738 incidents of stubble burning in 2019, 59,684 in 2018, 67,079 in 2017, and 1,02,379 in 2016. Haryana recorded 3,661 farm fires in 2022, down from 6,987 in 2021 and 4,202 in 2020. The neighbour

Delhi air quality remains 'poor' for third consecutive day with AQI at 261

As stubble burning continues in parts of Punjab and Haryana, air quality in the national capital has worsened in the past few days

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Delhi's air continues to be 'poor' with AQI at 249, Hanumangarh's worst

Air pollution: Hanumangarh was followed by Rajasthan's Bhiwadi and Haryana's Bahadurgarh as the most polluted Indian cities

Delhi's air quality stays 'poor', anti-pollution drive to start today

CPCB's daily bulletin showed that Meghalaya's Byrnihat was the most polluted city in India, with an AQI of 302, followed by Hanumangarh (297) and Greater Noida (278)

Air quality in Mumbai will improve in two months' time, says minister

Maharashtra minister Deepak Kesarkar on Wednesday said with all the steps taken for air pollution mitigation, it will take upto two months for the air quality in Mumbai to improve. Speaking at a news conference at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters, Kesarkar, who is the guardian minister of Mumbai, said dust particles was the major cause of air pollution in the city. The BMC on Wednesday came out with air pollution mitigation guidelines for construction sites and other sources of air pollution. "Now this action has been started, and in the coming one or two months, you will see its results," Kesarkar said. The Maharashtra government has set up a committee to study the issue and its work has started, he said. The companies implementing big infrastructure projects in Mumbai have agreed to participate in the initiative taken for improving the air quality, Kesarkar said. "Providing clean air to the citizens of Mumbai is also the responsibility of the government