The climate of Delhi-NCR has become very bad on Diwali. The level of pollution has increased so much that the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) sub-committee of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) called an emergency meeting. After reviewing the weather and wind conditions, it was decided to implement a 12-point action plan under GRAP-2.
According to the report of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s air quality has been recorded as ‘poor’ today. Anand Vihar in Delhi-NCR had the worst air quality index (AQI). Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 417, making the area the most polluted. AQI 348 was recorded in Vijay Nagar (Ghaziabad), and AQI 341 was recorded in Noida. Whereas, AQI of Noida Sector-1 was 344. In this way, the pollution situation in Anand Vihar remains most worrying. At 6 pm on Sunday AQI was 300 and at 7 pm it reached 302, which falls in the ‘very poor’ category.
- Anand Vihar – 417
- New-Delhi – 367
- Vijay Nagar-(Ghaziabad) – 348
- Noida-Sector-1 – 344
- Noida – 341
- Gurugram – 283
Now all the steps decided under GRAP Stage-II will be implemented immediately in NCR. These measures will remain in place in addition to the actions of GRAP Stage-1. The Commission has directed Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of NCR states and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to ensure strict compliance.
CAQM has also appealed to the citizens to follow the suggestions given under GRAP Stage-I and Stage-II.
– People should use public transport and minimize the use of private vehicles.
– Use technology, choose the less crowded route, even if it is a little longer.
– Change the air filters in your vehicles regularly.
– Avoid construction activities that generate dust during the months of October to January.
– Avoid open burning of solid waste and biomass.
12-point action plan implemented under GRAP Stage-II
The 12-point action plan under GRAP-2 has been immediately implemented in entire Delhi-NCR. This scheme is in addition to all the already ongoing GRAP-I measures. In this action plan, all the pollution control boards of NCR, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and other agencies have been instructed to take many necessary steps. in these steps air pollution Includes special measures to be taken to reduce.
1. Cleaning of roads: The identified roads should be cleaned daily with machines (vacuum sweeping) and water sprinkling. If necessary, the number of machines and working hours should be increased.
2. Dust Control: Roads, especially in hotspots and busy areas, should be sprayed with water on daily basis with anti-dust substances and the collected dust should be disposed of safely.
3. Inspection of construction sites: Inspections should be increased for strict adherence to dust control rules at construction and demolition sites.
4. Action in hotspot areas: Measures to reduce air pollution should be intensified by paying special attention to all the pollution hotspots of NCR.
5. Continuous Power Supply: Uninterrupted electricity should be provided to reduce the use of diesel generators.
6. Control of DG sets: The use of DG sets in industrial, commercial and residential areas should be limited as per the prescribed rules.
7. Traffic Control: To avoid traffic jams, traffic should be coordinated at intersections and busy roads and adequate police personnel should be deployed.
8. Public Awareness Campaign: Advisory and warning messages should be issued on newspapers, TV and radio to encourage people to behave responsibly and avoid air pollution.
9. Discouraging private vehicles: Parking fees should be increased to reduce the use of private vehicles.
10. Promotion of public transport: The number of CNG and electric buses should be increased, the frequency of metro services should be increased and cheaper travel rates should be implemented in off-peak hours.
11. Safety measures in winter: Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) should provide electric heaters to their employees like security, cleaning and gardening staff in winter, so that they avoid burning garbage or biomass in the open.
12. Ban on polluting buses: Buses coming from NCR states which are not electric, CNG or BS-VI diesel will not be allowed to enter Delhi. (Buses with All India Permit and tempo travelers have been excluded from this.)
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