The CAQM, in view of the forecasts for meteorological conditions and air quality index made available by Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), respectively, has taken a call on the preventive, restrictive measures under stage II of GRAP, invoked in the entire NCR on October 19 last year.
The Delhi government is working on a five-dimensional anti-pollution strategy, whose pillars include innovation, scientific management of dust and solid waste, action against polluting industries, reduction of vehicular emissions, and long-term efforts to make the capital city greener and healthier.
NCR cities like Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Noida, and Greater Noida are also reeling under the 'poor' category AQI, which was earlier 'very poor'.
Every winter, as smog folds itself over north India like a thick, abrasive blanket, citizens turn to their phones for the day’s most essential number: the Air Quality Index.
Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10) remained the dominant pollutant behind the capital’s worsening air, CPCB’s 4 p.m. bulletin noted.
The Graded Response Action Plan or GRAP is categorized into four stages – Stage I, Stage II, Stage III and IV.
The air quality in Gurugram also remained in the 'poor' category as the city recorded an AQI of 228. While the AQI in Noida was recorded at 201, which was in the poor zone. In IIT Delhi, the AQI was 197 marginally little away from the poor category.
There was no mechanism in place to enforce the Environment Protection Act. In a vast country like India and in a federal set up, a law cannot be imposed unilaterally. In the final analysis, it is the States who are the main stakeholders and are primarily responsible for the protection of forests and environment. It was as complicated an affair as the introduction of a single tax like the GST
Centre government is highlighting the issue of stubble burning to divert people's attention from the unfortunate incident that took place in Gujarat (Morbi rope bridge tragedy), they said.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered `good`, 51 and 100 `satisfactory`, 101 and 200 `moderate`, 201 and 300 `poor`, 301 and 400 `very poor`, and 401 and 500 `severe`.
