Page 27 - Air Quality Index

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Delhi air quality expected to improve in next two days, says Gopal Rai

The air pollution in the National Capital declined to 'very poor' category from severe, with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recording at 393

Coal-based power plants aggravating air pollution in Delhi-NCR: Report

Non-compliance of thermal power plants in Delhi-NCR with emission standards is contributing significantly to air pollution in the region, according to a new analysis. The study by environmental think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) focuses on particulate matter, nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide emissions from the 11 thermal power plants (TPPs) in Delhi-NCR and is based on their environmental status reports sourced from the website of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), a technical arm of the Union Ministry of Power, from April 2022 to August 2023. According to studies, the TPPs account for around eight percent of the PM2.5 pollution in Delhi-NCR. "Delhi-NCR cannot achieve the clean air benchmark and safeguard public health if continuous sources of pollution, such as thermal power plants, continue to emit pollutants at high levels. These plants have struggled to meet the standards, primarily due to continually shifting compliance deadlines, says Anumita ...

NGT directs states to take concerted efforts to improve air quality index

The National Green Tribunal has directed states which witnessed a deterioration in the Air Quality Index to make "concerted efforts" to ensure an improvement in air quality. The tribunal had earlier issued notices to the chief secretaries of several states after taking cognisance of the online air quality bulletins of the Central Pollution Control Board. It had also directed the chief secretaries of the states where the AQI had dipped or continued to be severe, very poor and poor, to "take all possible immediate remedial measures". Referring to the AQI chart of various cities, including those in Punjab, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Bihar, from November 10 to 21, an NGT bench said, "It did not depict any satisfactory efforts by the authorities concerned." The bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel underscored that

Strictly implement curbs on polluting vehicles, biomass burning: Gopal Rai

As air quality turned severe again in the national capital, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday directed agencies and departments concerned to ensure strict implementation of curbs on polluting vehicles and check the increasing incidents of biomass burning. Recent data shows that vehicular emissions account for about 25-30 per cent of the capital's air pollution. Though stubble burning has reduced, biomass burning at different locations in Delhi-NCR is responsible for 21 per cent of Delhi air pollution, Rai told reporters here. Earlier during the day, Rai chaired a meeting with senior officials of various departments to review the air pollution situation. He said the transport department and the Delhi Traffic Police have been asked to strictly monitor the implementation of curbs on BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles under stage III of the Centre's air pollution control plan called the Graded Response Action Plan. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the revenue ..

Delhi air pollution: Gopal Rai to hold review meeting with DPCC today

The air quality in the national capital continued to hover in the 'very poor' category on Friday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at over 350 in several areas

Delhi's AQI 'very poor' at 388 on Friday, Grap-3 rules to continue

Delhi Minister for Environment Gopal Rai on Thursday said that the city's air quality is expected to improve in the next two to three days

AQI expected to improve in next 2-3 days: Delhi Environment Minister Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Thursday said the city's air quality, as per experts, is expected to improve in the next two to three days and hence the state government has decided to continue with GRAP III regulations. The minister said the Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to improve from the "very poor" category in the coming days but the ban on certain vehicles will continue under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) III regulations. "Under GRAP III, BS 3 petrol and BS 4 diesel vehicles are still banned," Gopal Rai told PTI. "Scientists are saying that the air quality will improve in the coming 2-3 days. As per the present conditions, it was decided that GRAP III regulations will continue in Delhi for now," he said. The minister further informed that the restrictions under GRAP IV have been modified and now include a ban on BS 3 petrol and BS 4 diesel vehicles with All India Permit, which were allowed to enter Delhi earlier. If Delhi air quality deteriorates in fu

Restrictions under Grap-3 to continue till air quality improves: Gopal Rai

Minister Gopal Rai on Sunday urged people to be careful and continue to follow the rules as stages 1, 2, and 3 of GRAP are still in place to tackle air pollution in the national capital

Air quality in Delhi continues to be under 'very poor' category, AQI at 395

Purnia in Bihar recorded the worst air quality, with an AQI index value touching 398. Aizwal, the capital of Mizoram recorded the best air quality with a "Good" rating and AQI index value of 15

Fogging machines deployed in Mumbai to settle dust in air, curb pollution

In a bid to bring down air pollution in Mumbai, fogging machines have been set up which will settle dust in the air, Maharashtra minister Deepak Kesarkar said on Wednesday. He said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is closely monitoring the situation. "Fogging machines which are used for settling dust in the air have been deployed. The remaining '5 technologies' will be in place soon to curb the pollution," Kesarkar, the guardian minister of Mumbai district, told a press conference here. Among other measures, the city civic body has started taking action against concerned entities violating the air pollution guidelines, he added. Notably, CM Shinde on Tuesday morning visited parts of Mumbai to review steps taken to control dust and air pollution and said the city civic body has been directed to do cloud seeding if required. The civic body has already approached a Dubai-based company, which has 100 per cent accuracy in cloud seeding and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed

Delhi's air quality slips into 'severe category', relief unlikely

In Dwarka Sector 8, AQI stood at 403. AQI in Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium was recorded at 404

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Delhi's air quality continues to remain in 'very poor' category, AQI at 323

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), at 7:41 AM, Anand Vihar saw an AQI of 374 and Jahangirpuri registered an AQI of 399

Stubble burning, a major cause of Delhi air pollution: Punit Renjen

Stubble burning, which is a major source of air pollution in the national capital region every winter, is a solvable problem, said Indian-American Punit Renjen, the Deputy Chair of German software firm SAP, based on the two pilot projects he has launched in Haryana and Punjab. It is very serious and there are multiple reasons for it. But stubble burning contributes about 25 per cent to 30 per cent of the air quality issues (in Delhi). There are 80,000 fire incidents in northern India, particularly in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. About 13 million tonnes of stubble is burned and 19 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases are put into the atmosphere, Punit Renjen told PTI. The top Indian American CEO, who has made part of his mission to help fight air pollution in the national capital region, said 15 million adjusted life years is equivalent to 2 lakh people dying each year as a result of stubble burning. "There's USD 300 million of lost revenue," who is also th

After slight improvement, Delhi air quality dips into 'very poor' category

AQI.CN pegged the air quality index (AQI) in Anand Vihar at 302. The AQI in Indirapuram was recorded at 323, whereas in RK Puram AQI was at 274

Delhi's AQI 'very poor' at 290 on Sunday evening, no major relief likely

Delhi and its suburbs recorded a marginal improvement on Sunday though a major relief is unlikely in the coming days, monitoring agencies said. The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 290 at 7 am but deteriorated to 301 by 4 pm. The 24-hour average AQI, recorded at 4 pm every day, was 319 on Saturday, 405 on Friday and 419 on Thursday. Neighbouring Ghaziabad (280), Gurugram (234), Greater Noida (236), Noida (268) and Faridabad (327) also recorded "poor" to "very poor" air quality. 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', 401 and 450 severe' and above 450 severe plus'. The Centre on Saturday removed stringent curbs, including a ban on construction work related to linear projects and the entry of polluting trucks into Delhi, in view of the dip in air pollution levels due to favourable wind speed and direction. These measures constitute the final stage -- Stage IV -- of the Centre'

Delhi's air quality now in 'poor' category with 209 AQI, govt lifts curbs

On Friday, Delhi's AQI was close to falling into the "severe plus" category, following which, the government would have implemented the odd-even car rationing measure

Ensure ban of private polluting buses in Delhi: AAP govt to authorities

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai directed the transport department on Friday to conduct a special drive to prevent the entry of private polluting buses into the capital. The minister reviewed the implementation of air pollution control measures at the Sarai Kale Interstate Bus Terminal and found buses from other states flouting the ban imposed on BS IV diesel vehicles under the Centre's Graded Response Action Plan. "We have found that private buses from other states have been violating the ban and have directed the transport department to run a special drive to check the entry of such vehicles into Delhi," he told reporters. Citing experts' views, Rai said that a slight improvement in meteorological conditions might lead to marginal relief but urged agencies to remain alert. Strict restrictions, including a ban on construction work and the entry of polluting trucks into the capital, under the final stage (Stage IV) of the Centre's air pollution control plan, known as the Graded

Delhi's AQI close to 'severe plus'; odd-even rule may be imposed soon

Earlier this week, Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai mentioned the possibility of the return of the odd-even car rationing measure if the AQI crosses the 450 mark