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.
Chief Minister Atishi on Saturday announced that the 10,000 Civil Defence Volunteers (CDVs) who were removed as bus marshals last year will return to work for four months from next week in enforcing various anti-pollution measures in the capital city.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's average AQI on Thursday was 377 at 4 pm, while several places recorded air quality in the 'severe' zone.
Sachdeva criticized the Delhi Chief Minister's recent directive from November 4, which ordered officials to continue their work until the last moment, calling it "absurd."
"Stage-I of GRAP has been in force since October 15 and Stage-II since October 22 in the entire NCR. During the October 15-31 period, a range of preventive and remedial measures were initiated to abate air pollution in the region," the Ministry said.
According to the pollution monitoring agency, the average AQI of Delhi stood at 382, nearing the 'severe' zone.
