Delhi air pollution: CM Arvind Kejriwal chairs high-level meeting

New Delhi [India]: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday chaired a high-level meeting with cabinet members and officials as the air quality dips further in the city.

The meeting was attended by Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai, Ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj and officials of the concerned departments.

After the meeting, Officials said that Minister Gopal Rai would hold a press conference later in the day.

Before the meeting, Gopal Rai told ANI there will be discussions held on the implementation of GRAP-4 and how to control pollution in the city.

“…There is a little improvement in Delhi’s AQI as compared to yesterday but it is still in the severe category,” Rai said.

“There will be discussions on the implementation of GRAP-4 in the meeting and how to control pollution…,” he added.

Speaking with media, AAP National spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said,”…According to CAQM, there is 50-67 per cent reduction in stubbing burning in Punjab. The stubble burning in Punjab is about 500 km away from here and the stubble burning in Haryana is 100 km away…”

The overall air quality in the National Capital continues to be in the ‘severe’ category for the fifth straight day, as per the Central Pollution Control Board. AQI measured at 9 AM from ITO in Delhi was recorded as 400 in the Very Poor Category.

The AQI data from Ashok Vihar in West Delhi at 9 am was recorded at 398 again in the Very Poor category.

According to the data issued by the System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR-India), the air quality in the National Capital was recorded at 488, up from 410 a day ago.

This comes after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Sunday decided to invoke Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the entire National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect to prevent further deterioration of air quality.

The Air Quality Commission said that Stage IV will be implemented in addition to the restrictions placed under Stage I to III.

According to the 8-point action plan, there will be a ban on entry of truck traffic into Delhi (except for trucks carrying essential commodities/ providing essential services and all LNG/ CNG/ electric trucks).

Also, a ban will be imposed on the plying of Delhi-registered diesel-operated Medium Goods Vehicles (MGVs) and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) in Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities/ providing essential services.

GRAP Stage-IV restrictions also include NCR State Govts and GNCTD may take a decision on discontinuing physical classes even for classes VI-IX, and class XI and conduct lessons in an online mode.

Doctors say, for any healthy person, a recommended AQI should be less than 50, but these days the AQI has spiked beyond 400, which could prove fatal for those suffering from lung-related diseases and even poses a risk of lung cancer.

The cases of stubble burning in the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab are the major sources of air pollution in the city.