AQI below 400 after rain in Delhi-NCR

It has been raining intermittently in Delhi-NCR since late Thursday night. This cleared the smog, but the air quality has not improved. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) was below 400 in most areas of Delhi at 9:30 am today.

AQI was recorded at 353 in Mundka, Delhi, 331 at IGI Airport, 397 at ITO Bus Stand, 395 at Jahangirpuri and 345 at Lodhi Road. AQI 375 was recorded in Noida adjacent to Delhi. However, despite the low AQI, Delhi's air is dangerous.

There will be a hearing in the Supreme Court today regarding the increasing pollution in Delhi. Meanwhile, Kejriwal government has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court. The benefits of odd-even are explained in this. During the hearing on November 7, the Supreme Court had called odd-even a sham.

Delhi government said - Odd-even reduced fuel consumption by 15%
The Delhi government has cited the study of Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) in the affidavit. It has been told that during the implementation of Odd-Even, the number of private cars on the roads decreased by 30 percent. A decline of 15% was recorded in fuel consumption. Also the use of public transport increased.

Odd-even will be implemented in Delhi after the order of Supreme Court
Actually, the Delhi government had announced to implement odd-even on the next day of Diwali i.e. from 13th November to 20th November. However, the Supreme Court said that odd-even does not reduce pollution. Delhi government should think of some concrete solution to stop pollution.

On the instructions of the Supreme Court, the Delhi government immediately withdrew from the decision to implement odd-even. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on November 8 that the Supreme Court will review how effective the odd-even system is. It will be implemented only after receiving orders from the Supreme Court.

There was a plan to make artificial rain in Delhi on 21-22 November.
Kejriwal government was planning to cause artificial rain in Delhi for the first time on 21-22 November. Environment Minister Gopal Rai had a meeting with scientists from IIT Kanpur on 8 November. It was told that artificial rain can be made when there is 40% cloudiness or humidity. Such weather conditions are being created on 21-22 November.

Delhi government will bear the cost of artificial rain. Delhi government officials said on Thursday (November 9) that the entire cost of artificial rain will be borne by the Kejriwal government. If the Center supports the decision of the Delhi government, then the first artificial rain can be done by November 20.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences had said yesterday that the air quality in Delhi-NCR will remain severe for the next five to six days. Pollution is not likely to reduce.

Delhi government entrusted its ministers with the responsibility of stopping pollution
Delhi government has asked all its ministers to work against pollution at the ground level. Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on November 9 that there has been negligence on the part of officials in implementing the rules of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Therefore, ministers have been entrusted with the task of monitoring.

Under this, Kailash Gehlot reached South and South-West districts of Delhi late on Thursday night for surveillance. Atishi inspected East and South-East districts. The Kejriwal government has entrusted the responsibility of monitoring North and North-East districts of Delhi to Gopal Rai, Saurabh Bhardwaj to South and New Delhi, Imran Hussain to Central and Shahdara and Raj Kumar Anand to North-West districts.

Ban on entry of Ola-Uber taxis from other states in Delhi
Due to increasing pollution in Delhi, app-based taxis coming from other states have been banned. Kejriwal government said on November 9 that on the orders of the Supreme Court, the entry of Ola-Uber and other app-based taxis registered outside Delhi has been banned. Only Delhi registered app based taxis will run in the state.

Winter vacation in schools a month earlier due to pollution
Delhi government has announced winter holidays in schools from 9 to 18 November. Every year there used to be winter vacation in schools between December-January, but this time due to pollution the holidays have been postponed to November only. Delhi's Education Department issued this order on Wednesday (November 8). Earlier, the Delhi government had directed to keep only primary schools closed till November 10.

One in three children in Delhi suffers from asthma
The worst impact of pollution in Delhi is on small children. Many children have been kept on oxygen support in hospitals due to difficulty in breathing. A study published in the Lung India Journal in 2021 revealed that one out of every three school-going children in Delhi is a victim of asthma.

At the same time, a study in the Lancet medical journal claimed that 16 lakh 70 thousand people died untimely in 2019 due to air pollution in India.

GRAP-IV implemented in Delhi
The fourth stage of GRAP is implemented in Delhi from November 5 due to increasing pollution. Under this, entry of commercial vehicles has been banned. Movement of trucks except those supplying essential goods like vegetables, fruits, medicines, CNG and electric trucks is prohibited.

GRAP-IV is applied at a place when the AQI there reaches the last stage i.e. between 450-500. Along with the implementation of GRAP-IV in Delhi, the rules of GRAP-I, II and III are also applicable. Under these, there is a ban on non-essential construction work, BS-3 category petrol and BS-4 category diesel, four-wheelers.