Delhi's Air Quality Deteriorates, Authorities Enforce Ban on Coal Usage
NDTV
This action comes as part of the government's pollution control plan known as the 'Graded Response Action Plan' (GRAP) which is implemented in Delhi-NCR to combat air pollution during the winter season.
Delhi's air quality was in the "poor" category on Saturday, and the maximum temperature settled at 35.5 degrees Celsius, one notch above season's average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The minimum temperature settled at 20.9 degree Celsius, a notch below the season's average, officials said.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital was recorded at 214 at 7 pm. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe".
On Friday, the Centre's air quality panel directed authorities in the National Capital Region to enforce a ban on coal usage in hotels and restaurants, and to take punitive measures against polluting industries and thermal power plants as the air quality in Delhi plunged into the "poor" category.
