Page 49 - Air Pollution

Anti-pollution curbs under GRAP stage 3 lifted in Delhi as AQI improves

Restrictions imposed under Graded Response Action Plan's (GRAP) Stage III have been withdrawn from Delhi-NCR after marginal improvement in the city's air quality, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said on Sunday. Curbs under Stage III included a ban on non-essential construction and demolition, closure of stone crushers and mining activities in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR). However, restrictions that were imposed under Stage-I and Stage-II of GRAP will continue. The decision was taken after the sub committee of GRAP noted that the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi marginally improved from the level of 353 (very poor) on January 14 to 213 (poor) on January 15. Based on the decision of the Sub-committee on GRAP, actions upto Stage-III were invoked on January 6 in the NCR, pursuant to prediction of a significant deterioration in the average air quality of Delhi. The Sub-committee in its meeting held on January 15 reviewed the air quality scenario in the region and ...

Beyond Joshimath: How not to make the future a repeat of the past

Can we have stronger regulatory and associated institutions to ensure environmental protection? If not, the shock effect of Joshimath won't last much more than a week, cautions T N Ninan

Explainer: What does an AQI of 450 mean? Is it just a winter thing?

At 450, the concentration of pollutants in the air "affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases"

Industry body seeks lifting curbs for nonpolluting work in construction

An industry delegation has requested Centre to consider exempting nonpolluting construction activities from ban

Cities choking still as India's clean air plan spends Rs 6897 cr in 4 yrs

Srinagar and Kohima among cleanest in country; Delhi most polluted city in 2022

Delhi's air quality remains in 'severe' category for second consecutive day

Delhi's air quality remained severe for a second consecutive day on Tuesday due to unfavourable meteorological conditions though pollution levels are likely to ameliorate in the coming days, forecasting agencies said. The city's air quality index had deteriorated to the "severe" category on Monday after a gap of around two months, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to direct all NCR states to implement anti-pollution curbs with greater vigour. Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) stood at 407 at 4 pm on Tuesday. It was 434 on Monday and 371 on Sunday. An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe". The Delhi government on Monday imposed a temporary ban on plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in the national capital in view of the worsening air quality. The CAQM had on Friday implemented curbs under stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan including a ban on private constructi

Delhi AQI 'severe', CAQM asks NCR to implement anti-pollution curbs

As Delhi's air quality deteriorated to the "severe" category on Monday due to unfavourable meteorological conditions, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) directed all NCR states to implement anti-pollution curbs with greater vigour. Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) stood at 434 at 4 pm on Monday, worsening from 371 on Sunday. An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe". An official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said low temperatures, calm winds and high moisture content led to trapping of pollutants. Considering the sudden spike in air pollution, the CAQM held an urgent review meeting with officials from Delhi and NCR states, including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, and directed them to implement the provisions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the field with "greater vigour to prevent further deterioration of air quality". The commission also stressed on the need to

Repeated implementation of GRAP III curbs delaying projects: CTI to CAQM

The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has written to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), saying repeated implementation of curbs under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan has delayed projects and affected labourers. The Centre's air quality panel had invoked restrictions under Stage III of GRAP including a ban on private construction and demolition work on December 30 in view of a spike in air pollution. The commission revoked the curbs on Wednesday but reimposed them on Friday due to frequently changing air quality scenario. On Sunday, the CTI wrote to the panel that traders associated with under-construction projects are very upset due to repeated implementation of curbs under Stage III of GRAP and the work is getting delayed. Besides, the livelihood of the labourers has also been affected, CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal and president Subhash Khandelwal said. They urged the CAQM to give relaxations to private construction works under Stage III of GRAP.

Real estate developers urge relaxation of norms under stage III of GRAP

Real estate developers have urged for some relaxation in the provisions of stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) which was reimposed on Saturday in Delhi-NCR due to severe air pollution

Air pollutants linked with asthma attacks in children, adolescents: Study

Moderate levels of two outdoor air pollutants, ozone and fine particulate matter, are associated with non-viral asthma attacks in children and adolescents who live in low-income urban areas, a study conducted in the US has found. The study also identifies associations between exposure to the two pollutants and molecular changes in the children's airways during non-viral asthma attacks, suggesting potential mechanisms for those attacks. The observational study, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), US, is one of the first to link elevated levels of specific outdoor air pollutants in particular urban locations to distinct changes in the airways during asthma attacks not triggered by respiratory viruses, according to the investigators. The findings are published in the journal The Lancet Planetary Health. "The strong association this study demonstrates between specific air pollutants among children in impoverished urban communities and non-viral asthma attacks further ...

12 with respiratory issues die in 2 days as air quality worsens in Dhanbad

At least 12 people with respiratory issues who were undergoing treatment have died in the last 48 hours here, as the air quality declined to "alarming" levels, officials said on Wednesday

Toxic levels rise in Delhi air, experts warn of respiratory issues

As the toxicity levels in Delhi's air quality is increasing, health experts have warned of respiratory illnesses, especially among people with heart and lung diseases

Delhi's air quality in 'very poor' category as AQI reaches 353: SAFAR

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the AQI in the National Capital Region of Gurugram stood at 371, with Noida also registering the same figure

Delhi in 2022 logged 2nd-lowest average PM2.5, PM10 levels in 5 years

Delhi in 2022 saw the lowest recorded daily average PM10 and PM2.5 concentration in five years, barring 2020 with lowest anthropogenic activities due to the pandemic-related restrictions, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said on Monday. PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations in 2022, with all activities in full throttle in the Delhi-NCR region, were even lower than those recorded in 2021, it said in a statement. The city logged average PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations of 211 microgram per cubic metre and 98 microgram per cubic metre. The values were the lowest after 2020 which saw average PM 10 and PM2.5 concentrations of 181 microgram per cubic metre and 95 microgram per cubic metre, respectively. Delhi's PM2.5 levels remained in the severe category for 204 hours in 2022 compared to 628 hours in 2021. The average air quality index (AQI) was recorded below the 200-mark for 1,096 hours in 2022 as against 827 hours in 2021, the Centre's air quality panel said. In 2022, Delhi al

Delhi's AQI in 'very poor' category, GRAP stage III norms remain enforced

The Sub-Committee is keeping a close watch on the situation and will review the air quality scenario accordingly on a regular basis, said the Ministry

CAQM invokes Stage III of GRAP as air pollution in Delhi-NCR rises

Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) clocked at 399 on Friday as per the 4PM AQI Bulletin provided by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

GRAP stage III invoked in Delhi-NCR, non-essential construction work banned

In view of a spike in air pollution, the Centre's air quality panel on Friday directed implementation of curbs under stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR, including a ban on non-essential construction and demolition work. Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index stood at 399 on Friday, just two notches below the severe category. The Sub-Committee on GRAP, at a review meeting, noted that the AQI is likely to slip into the severe category due to calm winds and stable atmospheric conditions. It directed authorities in Delhi-NCR to invoke curbs under stage III of the anti-pollution plan with immediate effect. If the AQI is projected to reach the severe category, restrictive actions under Stage III are to be invoked at least three days in advance, according to GRAP. Curbs under Stage III include a ban on non-essential construction and demolition, closure of stone crushers and mining activities in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR).

Air in North India turns 'poor' again as rains play truant, winds go slow

Plunge in AQI attributed to 'winter inversion', where cooler air is trapped under a warmer layer, creating an atmospheric blanket that traps pollutants closer to the Earth's surface

BJP demands white paper on pollution from Delhi govt as AQI deteriorates

For the last two days the national capital is facing an air emergency situation with the AQI levels at over 400, crossing the "severe" threshold

Delhi govt to run 10-day anti-open burning campaign as pollution spikes

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has directed officials to run a special 10-day anti-open burning campaign in the national capital starting Tuesday in view of the spike in air pollution. Delhi's air quality plunged to the severe category on Monday and the 24-hour average AQI stood at 410 at 4 pm. Pollution levels ameliorated to the very poor category on Tuesday morning at the overall AQI stood at 376 at 11 am. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor and 401 and 500 severe. "In view of the increasing pollution, instructions have been given to officials to run 'Anti Open Burning Special Campaign' for the next 10 days," Rai tweeted. He said 611 teams of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Revenue Department, and other government agencies will take action on the ground. The minister also appealed to all the agencies and resident welfare associations of D