Delhi's Air Quality Deteriorates to
Image Source: Internet
Delhi residents woke up to hazardous air quality on Thursday, just a day after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) lifted the restrictions imposed under Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The city's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 351 at 8 am, with several areas recording AQIs above 300. The national capital has now faced 21 consecutive days of poor air quality, with major areas such as Burari, Anand Vihar, and Jahangirpuri registering AQIs of 369, 390, and 394 respectively. The CAQM had revoked Stage 3 restrictions and warned that Stage 1 and 2 restrictions would be intensified instead. Forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) suggest that the air quality will remain 'very poor' in the coming days. The Sub-Committee on GRAP emphasized that construction and demolition sites will not be allowed to resume work unless they receive a specific order from the Commission. In a separate development, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav directed Delhi and NCR states to devise a scientifically planned greening strategy to improve the air quality in the long run. The strategy must cover both rural and urban areas and be based on a comprehensive mapping of forest land. The toxic smog in Delhi has been a pressing concern for weeks, with a surge in respiratory, ocular, and pulmonary issues among residents.
