NEW DELHI: The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining areas on Tuesday directed the Delhi government to intensify preventive measures to control soaring pollution levels. The panel also asked the government and concerning agencies to consider deploying water sprinklers and anti-smog guns round-the-clock to check the dust and keep pollution levels under control. Track the pollution level in your city On Tuesday, a layer of smog — thickened due to the calmer winds and raging farm fires in Punjab — gripped Delhi. While the air quality of the city has been worsening since Monday evening, Tuesday saw season’s first “severe” air quality due to accumulation of pollutants and poor ventilation. The average air quality index (AQI), on a scale of 0 to 500, on Tuesday was 424 which was worse since December 26 last year. Amid such situation, CAQM called the meeting with Delhi government officials on Tuesday, even as level-3 restrictions under Graded Response Action Plan, have been in place in the city since October 29. The commission suggested that they increase the frequency of water sprinklers and anti-smog guns. The officials however, in light of forecast from IITM that air quality may improve to “very-poor” by Friday, the restrictions for “severe-plus” or the level-4 category were not imposed. “We have suggested to intensify measures under the severe category. As the construction is already banned for now, the city government can utilise anti-smog guns and sprinklers available. The restrictions under severe-plus or level-4 are not required as of now,” a CAQM official said. Under level-4, the entry of trucks shall be banned and all diesel vehicles, including light motor vehicles, will not be allowed. The sharp rise in AQI over the last five days is due to meteorological and external factors, like calm winds, low night temperature, altering wind directions, etc.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/caqm-to-govt-no-level-4-curb-under-grap-for-now/articleshow/95239138.cms