Air quality improves slightly in Delhi

New Delhi: After three consecutive days of air quality in Delhi remaining in the ‘severe’ category, the quality Index improved slightly on Sunday morning following which the GRAP Stage IV measures may be reviewed.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had imposed Stage IV measures of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) on Thursday that bans the entry of diesel vehicles that were not BS VI in Delhi.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the overall AQI of the city improved further on 331, however, it is still in the very poor category. The concentration of both PM 2.5 and PM 10 was recorded at 331 under the very poor category and 211 under the poor category respectively.

Delhi’s AQI returned to the ‘very poor’ category after a change in wind direction due to southeasterly, while local winds speeds also picked up. “The AQI will start improving faster now as surface wind will pick up to enhance dispersion and the direction of stubble transport wind also is changing. The AQI will be very low to mid part of very poor by the 6th of November,” said Prof. Gufran Beig, Founder Project Director, SAFAR.

However, Prof Beig also added that the relief is short lived. “The AQI will start deteriorating from the 8th evening as the stubble wind will again turn from the burning side,” he said.

The Delhi government on Friday banned the entry of trucks other than essential services in the national capital following the introduction of GRAP IV. The government has also constituted a six-member committee to monitor truck entry in the national capital city.

“Only CNG, petrol and electric vehicles will be allowed to enter Delhi. There will also be a ban on medium and heavy vehicles of diesel registered in Delhi, which are not connected to the essential services. Small vehicles with diesel engines which are not BS6 compliant will also be banned,” Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Friday.

The Delhi Traffic Police are ensuring that trucks, apart from those carrying essential items, do not enter the city.

According to police, till 6am on Sunday, 1,767 trucks were stopped at Delhi’s border while nearly 150 diesel heavy goods vehicles registered in Delhi (except those carrying essential services) were impounded.

“A total of 1,296 diesel light motor vehicles (except BS-VI vehicles and vehicles used for essential services) were impounded in the city, said police.