Delhi Air Pollution Warning: Ahead of the winters and festive seasons, Delhi's air quality has already begun deteriorating due to a significant dip in the rain activities. The Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital was recorded at 151 on Wednesday, the worst in the past few weeks. The air quality is likely to further deteriorate in the coming weeks due to less rainfall and the presence of fog, the weather experts flagged.
Air Quality Worsened In Last Few Days
As per the 24-hour average at the Delhi Pollution Control Committee's monitoring system, Delhi's AQI has significantly risen in the past few days. While the AQI was recorded at 118 on September 19, it increased to 160 on September 20, 169 on September 21, and 178 on September 22. Amid the worsening air quality, the maximum temperature has also remained above 30 degrees Celsius, leading to concerns.
While reacting to reports, the officials stated that the guidelines issued by the concerned authorities will be implemented in advance. "The objective is to ensure that departments do not wait for pollution levels to deteriorate before starting enforcement. The measures have been given fixed timelines so that preparatory work can begin in advance," a senior government official was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
What Are The Guidelines?
The state government has notified a permanent winter pollution framework, announcing several changes between November 1 and February 28 to manage the worsening air quality. The authority has announced multiple key changes, including restriction of the construction activities, doubled parking charges, a mandatory PUC certificate for vehicles, and 50 per cent attendance in government and private offices.
While the AQI of Noida was recorded between 120 and 160 on Wednesday, it remained around 150 in different parts of Gurugram. Apart from this, the state government is also likely to announce restrictions at several toll plazas to ensure less congestion. The residents of Delhi and nearby cities, including Gurugram and Noida, struggle in the winter months due to the deteriorated air quality, which often causes breath-related diseases.