AQI inching to 'severe', construction ban begins
NEW DELHI: The Capital's air quality was again on the brink of 'severe' on Thursday, on account of stubble burning in adjoining states and unfavourable meteorological conditions, authorities said. The overall air quality index (AQI) of Delhi was recorded at 392, in the 'very poor' category.
PM2.5 levels in Delhi on Wednesday stood at 215 microgram per cubic metre (µg/m³), up to four times higher than the acceptable levels, and Thursday saw no change. Meanwhile, PM10 levels stood at 370 µg/m³, almost four times over the safe levels.
The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA), on Thursday, instructed all construction activities involving excavation and civil construction (excluding internal finishing/work where no construction material is used) to be stopped in Delhi and other NCR districts from November 1 to 10.
A circular from EPCA stated, "All stone crushers and hot mix plants generating dust pollution will stop functioning in Delhi and other National Capital Region districts from November 1-10. All industries using coal and biomass as fuel will stop functioning in Delhi and other NCR districts from November 4 to 10."
"Industries that use natural gas as fuel can continue to operate. The order does not apply to power plants in the NCR (except Badarpur) and waste-to-energy plants. Also, all diesel generator sets in Delhi have been shut as of October 15, and the Badarpur Power Plant in Delhi has been closed as of October 15," the circular noted.
The Authority also issued letters for shutting down brick kilns in Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. Brick kilns in Delhi-NCR will also be closed from November 1 to 10.
Mundka industrial area will remain closed from November 1 to 10, so that all plastic and rubber debris, as well as other waste are removed by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, based on the EPCA's inspection and directions.
EPCA has also instructed all chief secretaries of neighbouring states to set up teams to patrol and impose fines on violators for garbage burning, industrial air pollution, dust mismanagement and visibly polluting vehicles.
