Editor Mr.Mayank Rawat ( Chief Editor Mr. Rohit Mishra )
New Delhi: Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reimposed GRAP stage-I curbs on Monday as the city’s air quality turned poor, with an average AQI of 206 against moderate 194 a day earlier.
Meanwhile, the city experienced a dry and warm day as the mercury spiked further, recording the maximum at 36 degrees Celsius, 4.5 notches above normal, against 34.5 degrees on Sunday. According to the weather department, the maximum temperature may reach 39 degrees Celsius by Wednesday, while it may reach 38 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.
GRAP’s stage-I focuses on the stringent enforcement of the existing guidelines. Earlier, it was imposed on March 7 when the air quality index turned poor at 202, and revoked on March 15 when AQI improved to 85 in the satisfactory zone.
CAQM stated AQI showed an increasing trend due to variable surface wind and unfavourable meteorological conditions in Delhi-NCR. The forecast by IMD/IITM predicts AQI to remain in this range, it added.
“As per the unanimous decision of the sub-committee on GRAP, all 27 actions as envisaged under stage-I of GRAP… are to be implemented in right earnest by all the agencies concerned in NCR with immediate effect,” the commission ordered. The agencies include the pollution control boards of the states in National Capital Region and Delhi Pollution Control Committee.
The commission directed all agencies to take note of various actions and the targeted timelines, which are issued by it to curb air pollution in the region and take appropriate actions accordingly. The timely action becomes a predominant factor in the summer months in determining the air quality in Delhi-NCR, CAQM added.The preventive measures include intensifying the use of anti-smog guns, water sprinkling and dust suppression measures in road construction, widening or repair projects and maintenance activities, and strict vigilance and enforcement of PUC norms for vehicles.
Among the measures are enforcing a complete ban on coal or firewood in tandoors in hotels, restaurants and open eateries; enforcing orders of NGT and Supreme Court on overage vehicles; enforcing the orders regarding the ban on firecrackers; and ensuring diesel generator sets are not used as a regular source of power supply.
Mayank Rawat
