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

A thick layer of smog enveloped parts of Delhi and the adjoining area on Thursday as air pollution remained high. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Anand Vihar area recorded an the Air Quality Index (AQI) of 473, categorised as 'severe'. Residents have complained of low visibility on the roads and have also been experiencing irritation in their eyes, running nose, breathlessness and cough. With the deteriorating condition of air quality the government is mulling to impose the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)-III.

#WATCH | Delhi: A thick layer of smog engulfs the Gazipur as the air quality deteriorates to 'Severe' category in several parts of the national capital, as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

AQI in Anand Vihar is at 473 pic.twitter.com/QuiRz7LAtv
— ANI (@ANI) November 14, 2024

Anand Vihar 473
Ashok Vihar 471
Alipur 424
Bawana 456
Chandni Chowk 400
Burari 354
Mathura Road 399
Dwarka 457
IGI Airport 436
Jahangirpuri 470
ITO: 423
Lodhi Road 383
Mundka 461
Temple Road 441
Okhla 441
Patparganj 472
punjabi bagh 459
Rohini 453
Vivek Vihar 470
Wazirpur 467
Najafgarh 460

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.