Delhi’s AQI Stays in ‘Very Poor’ Zone for 8 Days, Likely to Persist

Delhi’s AQI Stays in ‘Very Poor’ Zone for 8 Days: For the eighth day in a row on Sunday, Delhi's air quality remained in the category of "very bad" with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 311.

The air quality of the national capital is going to stay in the "very bad" band for three days more as predicted by the Air Quality Early Warning System because of adverse weather conditions.

Among the 37 air quality monitoring stations in the national capital, virtually all recorded above 300-categories as 'Very Poor' while Anand Vihar, ITO, and Mundka AQI read AQI at 342, 321, and 360.

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Delhi's 24-hour average AQI stands at 346 as on Saturday at 4 pm, a slight increase from 331 recorded on Friday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

There are six categories of AQI "Good" (0-50), "Satisfactory" (51-100), "Moderately polluted" (101-200), "Poor" (201-300), "Very Poor" (301-400), and "Severe" (401-500).

GRAP-IV Restrictions In Delhi

However, despite the AQI still remaining in the 'very poor' category, it is definitely better than during the last few weeks when it deteriorated into the 'hazardous' level and with this the restrictions have been applied as dictated by GRAP-IV.

Thus, in light of such alarming conditions, the Supreme Court directed enforcement of all other measures undertaken under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-4) except those that relate to the closure of schools.

It further directs strict restrictions on construction activities, industrial emissions and other pollution-intensive practices. The court has expressed concern over lapses in the implementation of these guidelines, thus warning that officials responsible for such failure will face legal consequences.

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Granting continued physical classes, the court refused to relax under GRAP-3 or GRAP-2 until a steady downward trend in the AQI levels was observed. It also directed the state governments to use the collected labor cess to assist construction workers affected by the ongoing construction ban.

Authorities have also issued a number of restrictions such as under GRAP-4 which prohibits entry of all non-essential trucks into Delhi other than carrying essential goods or running on cleaner fuels such as LNG, CNG, BS-VI diesel, and electricity.

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