Delhi's air quality: "Why did we wait....," questions Supreme Court
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New Delhi: Over the continuously worsening air quality in the national capital region, the Supreme Court questioned the Delhi government on Monday. The court asked the government why there was a delay in implementing anti-pollution measures, NDTV reported.
"Why did we wait for the air quality index to cross 300?" NDTV quoted the top court while hearing a plea seeking the implementation of measures to curb air pollution in Delhi.
The air quality index (AQI) in the national capital plunged to ‘severe-plus’ on Monday, with a thick layer of smoke and fog having enveloped the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR). In view of the worsening air pollution, the air quality panel of the Centre imposed stricter pollution control measures for the region from 8 am under Stage 4 of the anti-pollution plan, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Flight operations and train services were affected by decreasing visibility due to smog, with the visibility at Palam dropping to 150 metres at 5 am, according to NDTV. The AQI in Delhi was recorded as the worst so far this season at 481 at 7 am as per the real-time data provided by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).
Officials attributed this situation to "unfavourable" meteorological conditions in the national capital region.
To know the gravity of the situation better, here are varying levels of AQI, beginning with the level between 0 and 50, which is considered good, and the level between 51 and 100, which is satisfactory.
When it is between 101 and 200, the situation is moderate, while 201 and 300 are poor, 301 and 400 very poor, 401 and 450 severe, and above 450 severe-plus. The preventive actions invoked under Stage 1, Stage 2 and Stage 3 of GRAP are already in force in the region.
The Centre’s panel, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), asked people, especially children and senior citizens, to stay indoors alongside those suffering from conditions such as respiratory, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular or other chronic diseases.
Meanwhile, public and private offices in the region are asked to work at 50 per cent capacity while a work-from-home option is also in place for central government employees.