Air quality in parts of Delhi remains 'severe', GRAP 3 restrictions may be imposed

Meanwhile, low-impact industrial plants and those with prior environmental clearances will no longer need permission from the state pollution control boards to establish or operate, according to a new notification issued by the Centre. Under the new rules, industrial plants with a "pollution index score" of 20 or below, as well as those with prior environmental clearances under a 2006 environment ministry notification, are exempt from requiring state-level permissions.

The CPCB data showed Delhi's annual average PM10 and PM2.5 levels were higher by 5 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively, between January 1 and November 12 against the year-ago period. Between January 1 and November 12, the national capital recorded 116 days with the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the 'poor', 'very poor', or 'severe' categories. The AQI on 201 days was 'good', 'satisfactory' or 'moderate', the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed. In comparison, Delhi recorded 110 'poor' air quality days last year and 206 days with air quality in the 'good', 'satisfactory' and 'moderate' categories.