Delhi's air quality 'severe': BS-IV diesel vehicles banned again; GRAP 3 restrictions reimposed

PTC News Desk: A thick blanket of fog enveloped the Indo-Gangetic plains in North India on Sunday, causing visibility levels to plummet to zero meters at various locations. Responding to the sudden deterioration in air quality in Delhi-NCR, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reinstated restrictions under Stage-3 of the anti-pollution measures known as GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan). This includes a ban on all non-essential construction activities and the operation of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles in the national capital and the NCR region.

The CAQM Sub-Committee for the operationalization of GRAP convened an emergency meeting due to the alarming decline in air quality. In response, the committee decided to implement an 8-point action plan, aligning with Stage-III of the revised GRAP across the entire NCR with immediate effect.

Despite the ongoing efforts, Delhi continued to grapple with severe cold conditions, recording a minimum temperature of 3.5 degrees Celsius on Sunday, marking the lowest temperature this winter. A dense layer of fog persisted in various parts of the city, contributing to the challenging weather conditions. This temperature reading was a slight decrease from Saturday's 3.6 degrees Celsius and Friday's 3.9 degrees Celsius, both of which stood as the lowest recorded temperatures of the season on their respective days. The recorded minimum temperature on Sunday was four notches below the seasonal average, as reported by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

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Severe Air Quality in Delhi Leads to Travel Disruptions and Implementation of Anti-Pollution Measures

On Sunday morning, Delhi experienced significant disruptions in transportation as more than 100 flights were delayed at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport, and nine flights had to be diverted to Jaipur. Simultaneously, the Northern Railway reported delays of over one hour for at least 22 trains. This setback in travel schedules was attributed to the deterioration of Delhi's air quality to the 'severe' category, marking the first instance this year. The adverse conditions resulted from low temperatures and sluggish wind speed over the past 48 hours.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) at 9 am on Sunday recorded a reading of 458, categorizing it as 'severe,' representing a further decline from Saturday's reading of 399, classified as 'very poor.' In response to the escalating pollution levels, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked measures for the third time this winter. These measures include a ban on BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar. Additionally, private construction activities in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) were immediately halted.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Sunday and Monday, forecasting dense to very dense fog coupled with coldwave conditions. Commuters using highways were advised to exercise extreme caution and utilize fog lights during their journeys. The weather department anticipated the maximum temperature to hover around 18 degrees Celsius on both days, with the minimum expected to be around four degrees Celsius on Monday.

These weather conditions have underscored the ongoing challenges faced by Delhi residents and travelers during the winter season, prompting authorities to implement stringent measures to combat pollution and ensure public safety.

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(Inputs from agencies)