NEW DELHI: In view of the worsening air quality, the Delhi govt has announced a temporary ban on using BS III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in the national capital effective from Tuesday. Centre for Air Quality Management (CAQM) held an urgent review meeting with officials from NCR State Governments and Pollution control boards.
Low temperatures and cold winds worsened the AQI on Monday prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management to direct all NCR states to implement air pollution curbs stringently.
“State Government representatives/ Chairpersons and Member Secretaries of NCR PCBs/ DPCC were impressed upon the need to implement the provisions of GRAP in the field with greater vigour to prevent further deterioration of air quality as well as to bring the overall AQI of Delhi down from the current ‘Severe’ level- a statement read.
“The ban on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles will kick in from Tuesday since the air quality has deteriorated in the severe category. We are monitoring the situation along with the Environment department. For now, the ban is likely to be in place till Friday. If the air quality improves, the ban could be lifted before Friday,” said a senior Transport department official.
The AQI on Monday was recorded at 434 as per the 4 pm AQI Bulletin, worsening from 371 on Sunday.
The CAQM re-invoked the Stage-III measures of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on January 6th. The measures include a ban on non-essential construction and demolition work and the closure of stone crushes and mining activities in the Delhi-NCR region due to chilling cold and deteriorating levels of air pollution in the national capital.