Toxic air still continued to haunt the national capital as the average Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded as 'poor' on Tuesday.
Till 7:30 a.m., the average AQI of Delhi-NCR was at 274 points, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported.
In eight areas of the city, the AQI level was between 300 and above 400 — 305 in Bawana, 307 in Jahangirpuri, 325 in Mundka, 304 in Nehru Nagar, 303 in RK Puram, 302 in Rohini, 342 in Shadipur, 306 in Siri Fort.
Whereas, in most of the other and other parts of Delhi, the AQI level was between 200 and above 300 — Alipur (272), Anand Vihar (293), Ashok Vihar (285), Chandni Chowk (249), Mathura Road (235), Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range (293), DTU (265), Dwarka Sector 8 (299), IGI Airport (257), Dilshad Garden (262), ITO (235), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (250), Lodhi Road (232), Major Dhyanchand Stadium (271), Mandir Marg (262), Najafgarh (237), Narela (260), North Campus DU (261), NSIT Dwarka (252), Okhla Phase 2 (278), Patparganj (271), Punjabi Bagh (252), Pusa (248), Sonia Vihar (289) and Sri Aurobindo Marg (238).
In the Delhi NCR region, Faridabad remained at 255 points, Gurugram at 222, Ghaziabad at 181, Greater Noida at 195, and Noida at 162.
As per CPCB, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor', 401-450 'severe', and above 450 'severe plus', as per the CPCB.
In response to the alarming situation, the Supreme Court has directed the enforcement of all measures under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-4), except those related to the closure of schools.
Strict constraints are placed on building, industrial emissions, and many such other pollution-intensive activities, with GRAP-4. It is said that a series of lapses in guidelines to such implementations has been a serious cause of concern for courts and officials responsible for failure face consequences from courts.
Various other restrictions have been introduced in Delhi under GRAP-4 such as a ban on non-essential trucks to enter into Delhi except those which bring the essential goods or operate using the cleaner fuels like LNG, CNG, BS-VI diesel, or electricity. There have also been suspended constructions regarding public infrastructure projects which would help reduce dust pollution-one of the major causes behind this crisis.
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