Entry of trucks banned as Delhi becomes country’s most polluted city
The Hindu
Schools in Noida, Greater Noida to hold online classes till November 8, no such order for Delhi schools yet; CAQM orders restriction on plying of diesel-fuelled medium and heavy goods vehicles within city limits; overall air quality likely to remain in ‘severe’ to ‘severe+’ category till tomorrow
On a day the national capital became the “most polluted city” in the country, a slew of measures, including a ban on entry of trucks and plying of diesel-fuelled Medium Goods Vehicles (MGVs) and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) within Delhi’s limits, was declared by the authorities.
In the National Capital Region (NCR), all schools in Noida and Greater Noida were asked to hold classes online for students up to Class VIII till November 8, according to an official order. No such order has been issued for Delhi schools yet.
The air quality of the Capital on Thursday deteriorated to the ‘severe’ category, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. At 8 a.m., Delhi was the “most polluted” place in the country and by 8 p.m. it was the “second most polluted” city after Charkhi Dadri in Haryana, stated the CPCB readings. Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) was 450 on Thursday, up from 376 (‘very poor’) on Wednesday, as per the CPCB’s 4 p.m. bulletin, which is considered the day’s official AQI.
The overall air quality of Delhi is likely to remain in the ‘severe’ to ‘severe+’ category on Friday and Saturday, according to the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM).
Environment Minister Gopal Rai has called for a high-level meeting of officials of different departments and agencies in Delhi, which are working to control air pollution, at 12 noon on Friday.
The CAQM on Thursday ordered State governments and pollution control boards in the National Capital Region to implement a ban on entry of trucks into Delhi. Exceptions have been made for trucks carrying essential commodities, providing essential services, and to all CNG and electric trucks.
The ban is part of a list of actions under “Stage 4” of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) that the CAQM has ordered the State governments to take “with immediate effect”. GRAP is a set of emergency measures taken to reduce air pollution.