Delhi Air Pollution: As the air quality in the national capital drops to the “severe plus” category, the Centre’s air quality panel has announced stricter pollution control measures for the Delhi-NCR under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The measures will be effective from 8 AM on Monday.

The measures include a ban on truck entry and a temporary halt on construction at public projects. The action came after the AQI in Delhi breached the 450 mark, sounding alarm bells pertaining to the worsening air quality in the national capital. 

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued the order as the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi worsened, reaching 441 at 4 pm and rising to 457 by 7 pm due to unfavourable weather conditions.

As per the order, no trucks will be allowed into Delhi except for those carrying essential items or using clean fuel (LNG/CNG/BS-VI diesel/electric).

Non-essential light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi will also be prohibited, except for EVs and CNG and BS-VI diesel ones.

Delhi-registered BS-IV or older diesel medium and heavy goods vehicles are banned, except for those in essential services, the panel said.

As a part of restrictions, all construction activities in the national capital, including highways, roads, flyovers, power lines, pipelines, and other public projects, have also been suspended.

The CAQM suggested online teaching for the students of Classes 6 to 9 and Class 11. It also recommended that offices in the National Capital Region (NCR) work at 50 percent capacity, with the rest working from home.

Work-from-home options may be introduced for central government employees, the panel said. State governments could also decide to close colleges, limit non-essential commercial activities, and implement odd-even vehicle rules, it said.

(With PTI Inputs)