The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Monday held an urgent review meeting with officials from NCR state governments and Pollution Control Boards considering the sudden increase in Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI).
The National Capital’s overall AQI clocked 434 on Monday as per the 4PM AQI bulletin provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which is an increase of 63 points from the AQI recorded yesterday (371), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said.
The 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”.
Considering this sudden rise in the average AQl of Delhi from the evening of Sunday and today, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and adjoining areas held an urgent review meeting with the officials from GNCTD/ NCR State Governments/ Chairpersons/ Member Secretaries of State Pollution Control Boards (PCBs)/ DPCC, the Ministry said.
State Government representatives/ Chairpersons and Member Secretaries of NCR PCBs/ DPCC were impressed upon the need to implement the provisions of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the field with greater vigour to prevent further deterioration of air quality as well as to bring the overall AQI of Delhi down from the current ‘severe’ level.
The need to deploy inspection teams in adequate numbers to ensure GRAP implementation was also reiterated.
“State Government Officers/ NCR Pollution Control Boards/ DPCC assured that they will review the implementation of GRAP and further intensify the pollution control and mitigating measures including prevention of open burning to reduce the contribution of different sources which has led to sudden spike in the overall AQI of Delhi,” the Ministry said.
The AQI at the IGI Airport, Delhi University and Pusa Road were the highest at 438, 415 and 404, respectively, under the “severe” category, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).
Dhirpur, Ayanagar and Lodhi Road reported AQIs at 391, 379 and 377, respectively, under the “very poor” category.
SAFAR has predicted that the overall AQI in the national capital will be in the “severe” category on Tuesday.