Delhi is turning into a gas chamber with the air quality index hitting the hazardous 400-500 'severe plus' category. Schools have been shifted to online mode, companies forced to announce work-from-home for their employees, and vehicles face restrictions.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva and Union Minister Harsh Malhotra took part in the demonstration, wearing respiratory masks to raise awareness among the people about the dangers of increasing pollution.
He emphasized the alarming rise in pollution levels, which have been exacerbated by stubble burning and other factors, with several areas recording very high AQI readings surpassing 400.
A day after a minimal drop, the Air Quality Index (AQI) on Saturday again reached the ‘severe’ category with a combination of smog and fog enveloping the national capital, reducing the visibility to 200 meters in the morning.
The decision came during a high-level meeting Rai held with the officials on the implementation of GRAP-III restrictions in the city.
Kejriwal and Mann, respectively, took responsibility for the excessive stubble burning that has led to a decline in air quality over the last few days.
Addressing a press conference here, Rai said, "The BJP first increases pollution and then does politics on it. The Delhi government is making every effort to reduce pollution on its end.”
Keeping environmental concerns, NCRTC has been using pre-cast segments for construction.
The ban has been imposed under stage three of the Graded Response Action plan (GRAP), the Minister said.
The capital witnessed a drop to the severe category for the first time this season due to poor dispersion of pollutants.
