Page 33 - Delhi Pollution

Gopal Rai calls meeting to discuss measures under GRAP stage III in Delhi

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai will chair a high-level meeting on Sunday to discuss measures to be implemented under stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan, officials said here. A layer of pungent smog enveloped Delhi-NCR on Saturday as air pollution in the region neared the "severe" zone amid adverse meteorological conditions. This prompted the Centre's air quality panel to direct authorities in the National Capital Region to immediately implement curbs, such as a ban on construction and demolition activities, under the Graded Response Action Plan stage III. Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index stood at 397 at 4 pm, the worst since January. It was 354 on Thursday, 271 on Wednesday, 302 on Tuesday and 312 on Monday (Diwali). GRAP is a set of anti-air pollution measures followed in the capital and its vicinity according to the severity of the situation. It classifies the air quality in the Delhi-NCR under four different stages: Stage I - 'Poor' (AQI 201-300); Stage

Delhi's air quality touches 'severe' category; GRAP Stage III kicks in

23 of the 36 air quality monitoring stations across Delhi recorded air quality in the severe category on Saturday morning

L-G asks AAP govt to reconsider 'Red light on...' campaign, sends back file

Delhi Lieutenant V K Saxena has asked Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to reconsider the 'Red light on, Gaadi off' campaign, questioning the effectiveness of such an "ad-hoc" measure as the national capital reels under high air pollution level, sources said on Saturday. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi had earlier attacked the LG, alleging that delay in approving the proposal had forced it to postpone the October 28 launch of the campaign. But sources in the LG office claimed that city Environment Minister Gopal Rai had lied as the file sent by the chief minister mentioned the date of launch as October 31. The month-long 'Red light on, Gaadi off' campaign aims at encouraging drivers to turn off the ignition of their vehicles while waiting at traffic signals. "The LG has sent the file to Chief Minister Kejriwal with the advice to reconsider the proposal," a source said. The LG objected to the "inhuman" and "exploitative use" of Civil Defence Volunteers (CDVs) at extremely

Delhi's AQI remains 'very poor'; world's second most polluted city today

The AQI of Delhi was 329 at 8 AM, according to the Ministry of Earth Sciences' air quality forecast agency SAFAR

AAP accuses Delhi L-G of not approving 'Red Light On, Gaadi Off' campaign

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday accused the lieutenant governor of making excuses for not giving timely approval for the 'Red Light On, Gaadi Off' campaign and questioned his seriousness about the level of pollution in the national capital. Setting the stage for a fresh confrontation with Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, the AAP government on Thursday had said it was postponing the launch of the campaign as the LG's office was yet to approve it. However, sources in the LG office alleged that Rai did not speak the truth about the date of the roll-out of the campaign and claimed that the AAP dispensation did so to coerce the LG into taking a decision. "LG is either not aware of seriousness of pollution or making excuses for not giving timely nod to 'Red Light On, Gaadi Off' drive. I appeal to him to give the approval as soon as possible," Rai said at a press conference on Friday. Talking about the difference in dates of the permission sought from the LG and the launch o

TMS Ep290: CCI fines Google, Delhi air pollution, markets, 'dirty' bomb

Why does Google find itself in CCI's crosshairs? Why was this Diwali in Delhi the cleanest in years? Will the primary market suck out secondary market liquidity? What is a 'dirty' bomb? Answers here

Delhi AQI poor despite cracker ban; BJP says stubble burning responsible

Days after Diwali, Delhi was wrapped in a blanket of smog as the air quality remained in the "very poor" category as the overall AQI stood at 323

PM 2.5 level lower in Delhi after Diwali but above safe limits: CPCB data

Every year air pollution levels spike in the Indo-Gangetic Plain a day after Diwali with grey skies and hard-to-breathe air

Gopal Rai flags off 150 mobile smog guns to curb air pollution in Delhi

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday flagged off 150 mobile smog guns from Delhi Secretariat, in view of the pollution in the national capital."The day after Diwali has recorded the lowest pollution in the last five years. There has been a reduction of 30 per cent in pollution compared to last year itself," he said while sharing the figures from the last five years.The environment minister congratulated the citizens for their efforts towards keeping pollution under control."The festival of Diwali was celebrated with great pomp yesterday, but I want to congratulate the people of Delhi that due to your efforts, the level of pollution has not increased today compared to every year. Today is the lowest level of pollution in the last five years. Last year it was 462, but today it has come down to 323, that is, there is a shortfall of about thirty per cent," he said.On the incidents of burning of firecrackers, Gopal Rai further added that some people did burst crackers, it is ...

Delhi's pollution level lowest in 5 yrs post-Diwali, says Gopal Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday said that this year the pollution level in the national capital was the lowest after Diwali compared to the last five years

Delhi's air quality lowest in last 5 years after Diwali, still 'very poor'

The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 312 was the second best for the Diwali day in seven years

Delhi's AQI turns 'very poor'; max temp settle at 31.2 degrees Celsius

Delhi's air quality turned 'very poor' on Monday with its maximum temperature settling at 31.2 degrees Celsius, a notch below the season's average. The minimum temperature was recorded at 14.5 degrees Celsius, two notches below the season's average. Humidity levels oscillated between 43 per cent and 90 per cent. Delhiites woke up to a pleasant Monday morning with the minimum temperature settling at 14.9 degrees Celsius, two notches below the season's average. The relative humidity at 8.30 am was recorded at 82 per cent. The weather department had forecast mainly clear sky for the day with the maximum temperature likely to settle around 31 degrees Celsius. The air quality in Delhi on Diwali Monday turned "very poor" amid an increase in stubble burning, bursting of firecrackers and moderately unfavourable meteorological conditions which allowed accumulation of pollutants, according to Swiss organisation IQAir. Delhi on Diwali was the most polluted city in the world followed by Lah

Delhi not among 10 most polluted cities in Asia: CM Arvind Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said among 10 most polluted cities in Asia, eight are from India and Delhi is not on the list. Citing a report, he said some years back, Delhi was considered to be one of the "most polluted cities in the world" but not anymore. The chief minister posted the media report on Twitter and wrote, "Among 10 most polluted cities in Asia, eight are from India and Delhi not in the list. Some years back, Delhi was the most polluted city in the world. Not any more!" He, however, said there is still a long way to go. "People of Delhi worked very hard. Today, we have improved a lot. While we have improved, its still a long way. We will continue working hard so that we find a place in the best cities of the world," Kejriwal said. "We are committed to making Delhi the best city in the world," he added.

Delhi set for smoggy Diwali as firework sales thrive after two yrs of Covid

Ban, strict fines fail to deter buyers, Air Quality Index at 247, hits 'poor' category on Sunday, a day ahead of Diwali

Delhi records minimum temperature of 17.4 degrees Celsius; air quality poor

Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 17.4 degrees Celsius, a notch below normal, on Saturday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The air quality in the national capital, however, continued to remain in the "poor" category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 260 at 9 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". According to the weather office, a clear sky is expected during the day. The mercury is likely to touch a high of 32 degrees Celsius during the say, the IMD said. The relative humidity was recorded at 83 per cent at 8.30 am.

Orders issued to ensure Yamuna not polluted during Chhath, says Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said officials had been directed to ensure that the Yamuna was not polluted during Chhath. "Chhath Puja will be celebrated like before on the ghats of the Yamuna. Orders have been given to all officers that all arrangements are made to ensure that the Yamuna is not polluted," he said in a tweet in Hindi. Chhath will be celebrated on October 30 and 31. It involves the offering of "arghya" to the Sun god by fasting women in knee-deep water. The festival is hugely popular among Purvanchalis living in Delhi.

Sunny morning in Delhi, national capital's air quality in 'poor' category

Delhiites woke up to a sunny morning on Friday with the city's air quality recorded in the "poor" category. The Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 224 at 9.20 am, the System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research ( SAFAR) data showed. The index value was 228 (poor category) on Thursday, according to the 24-hour average AQI bulletin of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The capital is likely to witness a generally clear sky on Friday, an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said. The maximum temperature is expected to settle at around 34 degrees Celsius, the IMD said. The minimum temperature was recorded a notch above normal at 17.3 degrees Celsius. 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.

BJP leaders dub Delhi govt 'anti-Hindu' over cracker ban ahead of Diwali

BJP leaders on Thursday targeted the Delhi government over the complete ban on firecrackers, dubbing the Arvind Kejriwal-led dispensation "anti-Hindu". The Kejriwal government said the ban on crackers was imposed on the orders of Supreme Court and the BJP leaders were showing disrespect to the court. Delhi BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should allow people in Delhi to burst crackers for two-three hours on Diwali. Party leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga termed the Kejriwal government as "anti Hindu" and said that it earlier banned Chhath celebration on Yamuna bank and was now trying to prevent cracker bursting on Diwali. The Delhi government, in a statement, said the cracker ban was imposed by the Supreme Court in view of health of the people. "In such a situation, the BJP leaders were disrespecting the Supreme Court order and indulging in dirty politics over health of the people," the statement said. The AAP government also questioned the BJP why it was mum

Delhi air pollution in early winter down 20% compared to pre-Covid: Report

The report also states that the onset of winter has been much cleaner this year due to the rains which were witnessed in September and October

Delhi's air quality to turn 'very poor' ahead of Diwali, curbs imposed

With air quality in the national capital likely to deteriorate to 'very poor' category in ahead of Diwali, the CAQM in Delhi-NCR has directed the authorities to enact Stage 2 of the Graded Response Ac