Page 8 - Delhi Air Quality

Supreme Court ends protection to BS-III, older vehicles in Delhi-NCR

The Supreme Court has asked civic and highways authorities to examine suspending or relocating toll plazas at Delhi's borders to ease congestion and emissions amid very poor air quality

Ban demolition work in NCR from Oct to Dec: Union Minister Bhupender Yadav

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Wednesday said that demolition work should be prohibited in the National Capital Region (NCR) during the peak pollution period, i.e., October to December. Chairing a high-level meeting to review action plans of the municipal bodies of Delhi and Sonepat, he also said that construction and demolition work should not be allowed in the region until construction and demolition waste handling and processing infrastructure is created and identified within a 10 km radius of the site. The minister asked all agencies to work in mission mode to achieve a 40 per cent reduction in the air quality index over the next one year. Stressing the importance of a "Whole-of-Government" and "Whole-of-Society" approach to effectively address air pollution, he said there is a need to improve the "global image of the national capital". He directed the removal of illegal parking and encroachments from 62 identified traffic congestion hotspots in Delhi. "A detail

Delhi to overhaul PUC system, roll out carpool app to curb air pollution

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the government would provide ₹2,700 crore over a ten-year period to the MCD for procuring mechanical road sweepers and litter pickers

SC allows ban on 10-yr diesel, 15-yr petrol vehicles below BS-IV in Delhi

The clarification modifies the court's August 12 order, which had earlier barred coercive action against such vehicles in the National Capital Region

Severe air pollution dents Delhi retail trade, footfall falls: CTI

Rising air pollution in Delhi-NCR has begun to severely impact retail trade in the national capital, with a sharp decline in market footfall, traders' body Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) said on Wednesday. Brijesh Goyal, chaiman of CTI, said, "As the air quality in Delhi slipped into the 'severe' category and it got widespread coverage across television, newspapers and social media, people are increasingly cautious about stepping out, resulting in shoppers are avoiding markets. This has led to a visible slowdown in business activity." According to the CTI, while nearly three to four lakh people from the National Capital Region (NCR) earlier visited Delhi markets daily for shopping, the number has now dropped to around one lakh due to worsening pollution levels. Goyal said the organisation has written to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, expressing concern over air pollution and its adverse impact on trade. With Christmas and New Year approaching, markets usually witn

Delhi govt to pay ₹10,000 to workers hit by Grap curbs: Labour Minister

Delhi Labour Minister Kapil Mishra said the compensation would be provided to workers impacted during the period Grap III remained in force, which lasted 16 days

Delhi offices to run at 50% capacity from Dec 18 amid pollution crisis

From December 18, all Delhi offices will run at 50 per cent capacity, with half staff working from home; essential services are exempt

BS-VI rule in Delhi explained: What it is and how to check your vehicle

BS emission standards are enforced to phase out high-polluting vehicles. Here's what BS-VI means, how it differs from older norms, and how to check your vehicle's category

Delhi AQI remains 'very poor'; govt announces BS-VI vehicle rules

Delhi's air stays 'very poor' with AQI above 300 in several areas; govt enforces BS-VI vehicle rules, checks, and bans on construction vehicles to curb pollution

Delhi tightens pollution norms, bars non-BS-VI vehicles from Dec 18

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said vehicles without a valid PUC certificate would be denied fuel at petrol pumps in the national capital from Thursday

Impossible to fix AQI in 9-10 months, says Delhi Environment Minister

Manjinder Singh Sirsa said air pollution posed a serious and immediate risk to children, but asserted that the current government was taking steps to bring the situation under control

No fuel for vehicles without valid PUCC from Dec 18 as Delhi tightens curbs

From Thursday, vehicles without a valid PUC certificate will not get fuel at petrol pumps in Delhi, as the government steps up action to curb pollution amid worsening air quality

Delhi air quality shows slight improvement, 10 stations record 'severe' AQI

Despite a slight dip in AQI, Delhi continues to grapple with dangerously high pollution levels, with dense smog reducing visibility across the city

Advisories multiply across courts, schools as Delhi-NCR fades into smog

Air quality readings underlined the urgency. Delhi's Air Quality Index ranged between 427 and 498 through the day, with early morning levels touching nearly 500, deep in the "severe" category

Crowd chants 'AQI AQI' as CM Rekha Gupta welcomes Lionel Messi in Delhi

Amid alarming pollution levels blanketing Delhi, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was greeted with chants of 'AQI', 'AQI' from a section of the crowd when she took the stage to welcome football icon Lionel Messi at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday. A sharp drop in visibility and haze-obscured skyline marked another low for Delhi on Monday as the Air Quality Index (AQI) touched 498 in the morning and settled at 427 by the evening, pushing the capital into severe' zone for the third day running. A video showing a section of the crowd chanting 'AQI', 'AQI' has gone viral on social media, prompting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to attack Gupta over the severe' pollution levels gripping the capital. International Shame, Crowd for Messi shouts AQI, AQI' as soon as Delhi CM Rekha Gupta arrives, AAP's Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj said in a post on X, sharing the clip. The AAP accused the BJP governments at the Centre and in Delhi of being indifferent as toxic air choked Delhi-NCR and parts o

Delhi chokes under severe smog as AQI touches 498, visibility drops

A sharp drop in visibility and haze-obscured skyline marked another low for Delhi on Monday as its AQI touched 498 in the morning and settled at 427 by the evening, with air quality in the hazardous "severe" zone. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 27 monitoring stations across the city recorded "severe" air quality, while 12 stations reported "very poor" levels. Wazirpur recorded the worst air quality among the 40 stations, with an AQI of 475. Notably, CPCB does not register an AQI value beyond 500. As per the CBCP, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory, 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 to 400 "very poor", and 401 to 500 "severe". Data from the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi indicated that PM2.5 concentration stood at 154.96 micrograms per cubic metre, while PM10 levels were recorded at 260.9 micrograms per cubic metre. PM2.5 refers to fine inhalable particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs,

Bhupender Yadav reviews air pollution action plans as Delhi-NCR AQI worsens

Delhi remained under dense smog on Monday, with the Air Quality Index settling at 498, placing it in the 'severe' category

Delhi schools today: Are schools closed on Dec 15 as govt invokes GRAP IV?

The govt stated that the revised academic arrangement will stay in effect from Dec 14, 2025, and will continue until further directions are issued after the implementation of GRAP Stage-IV

Delhi pollution crisis: HC advises lawyers to avail hybrid mode for hearing

Amid severe pollution levels in the city, the Delhi High Court on Monday advised lawyers and parties-in-person to avail hybrid mode of appearance through video conferencing in their matters listed before it. Delhi choked under a thick blanket of smog on Monday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) settling at 498, which falls in the higher spectrum of 'severe' category A circular issued by the registrar general of the high court said, in view of the prevailing weather conditions, I have been directed to convey that if convenient, members of the bar/ parties-in-person may avail hybrid mode of appearance through video conferencing facility in their matters listed before the hon'ble courts. On Sunday, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant also advised members of the Bar and parties-in-person to avail hybrid mode of appearance through video conferencing in matters listed before the Supreme Court in view of the prevailing weather conditions. Presently, the high court functions through a hybrid

SC to hear plea on worsening Delhi-NCR air pollution on December 17

The Supreme Court on Monday said it will list for hearing on December 17 a plea related to worsening air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pamcholi took note of the submissions of senior advocate Aprajita Singh, who is assisting it as an amicus curiae, that though the preventive measures are there in place but the key issue was of their poor implementation by the authorities. Singh said till this court directs something, the authorities do not comply with the protocols which are already there. This is coming up before a three judges bench on Wednesday. It will come up, the CJI said. Another lawyer referred to an application relating to the health issue of children, and said schools, despite the earlier orders, are holding outdoor sports activities. Despite the order of this court, Schools have found ways and means to have these sporting activities.. it is taking place. The CAQM (Commission for Air ..