Delhi Weather, AQI & Air Pollution Highlights: Delhi’s business suffers ₹2,500-crore blow amid pollution, GRAP-4 restrictions, says CTI

A thick layer of toxic foam was seen floating on the surface of the Yanuma River, raising serious concerns about the potential health risks it poses to the surrounding communities. 

The Drone visuals from Kalindi Kunj at around 7:45 AM on Sunday revealed thick toxic foam floating on the Yamuna River, underscoring severe pollution. 

The air quality of the national capital continued to remain in the ‘very poor category,’ with the city blanketed with smog on Sunday. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded at 316 as of 7 am today, categorised as ‘very poor’.

Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) was hovered around 330 for the entire day Friday, until 7 p.m., which falls under ‘very poor’ category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The AQI of 18 spots in the national capital were higher than any other place in the country.

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Delhi woke up to persistently “very poor” air quality for the sixth consecutive day on Friday.

At 9 am, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 329, placing it in the “very poor” category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Out of 39 monitoring stations, two stations -- Bhawana (426) and Mundka (408) -- recorded air quality in the “severe” category, while 22 stations remained in the “very poor” category, and the rest fell under the “poor” category, according to the Sameer app, which provides hourly data.

An AQI between 301 and 400 is classified as “very poor”, while levels above 400 are considered “severe”. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered “good”, 51-100 “satisfactory”, 101-200 “moderate”, 201-300 “poor”, 301-400 “very poor”, 401-450 “severe” and above 450 “severe plus”.

The city also witnessed the coldest night of the season so far with the night time temperature dropping to 9.5 degrees Celsius, a notch below the normal.

At 8.30 am, the humidity level was recorded at 97 per cent, with the weather department forecasting a mainly clear sky for the day.

The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to settle at 27 and 9 degree Celsius respectively. - PTI

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has decided to ease restrictions under Stage-III and IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in NCR, allowing individuals with disabilities (PwDs) to continue driving their personally adapted vehicles, even if they are BS-IV diesel or BS-III petrol cars, solely for their personal use.Notably, CAQM has put a ban on BS-IV diesel or BS-III petrol cars in the area due to pollution concerns.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered that GRAP Stage IV measures, currently in force to tackle the severe air quality in Delhi, will continue to remain in operation except in schools till December 2. - ANI

: The air quality in the national capital remained in ‘the’very poor’ category, as the AQI was recorded at 332 as per the Central Pollution Control Board on Friday at 7 a.m.AQI in different areas of the national capital, like Anand Vihar, was recorded as 393, 356 in Ashok Vihar, 322 at the IGI airport road and 381 in Jahangirpuri at 7 a.m as per CPCB.The conditions in the city have deteriorated, with residents complaining of several health-related issues like breathing problem, irritation in eyes and skin issues. - ANI

Drone visuals captured frothy layer of toxic foam in River Yamuna in the Kalindi Kunj area, as the pollution level in the river continues to remain high. The toxic foam has continued to persist on the surface of the Yamuna River for the past several days.

Amid an expectation of some relaxations in the curbs by the Supreme Court on Thursday when it hears a plea relating to air pollution, Delhi’s air quality remained marginally above 300 AQI this morning. The AQI was 300-303 the entire day on Wednesday, and experts said that the pollution may improve in the coming days with a reduction in case of stubble burning.

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to relax the restrictions under GRAP Stage-IV, emphasising that the curbs could only be eased if AQI levels consistently decreased.

Hundreds of construction workers staged a protest outside the Delhi Lieutenant Governor’s office in Civil Lines on Wednesday, demanding compensation for the income loss they have suffered due to the ongoing ban on construction activities under GRAP, PTI reported.

The protest was organised by the Building Workers Union, which is affiliated with the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU).

During the protest, workers highlighted the impact of the construction ban on their livelihoods after the implementation of GRAP restrictions on November 18.

With air quality worsening in Delhi-NCR, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had announced stricter pollution control measures under Stage 4 of GRAP, including a ban on truck entry and a temporary halt on construction at public projects.

Delhi’s air quality improved this morning to hover around 300 AQI with a clear sky as against 383 at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) moved from 300 earlier to 301 at 7 a.m. and remained at 302 for the next three hours, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. At 10 a.m., as many as 19 of the national capital’s 38 monitoring spots from where data were available had an AQI of 300 or less. The highest AQI was 377 at Shadipur Depot, and the lowest was 242 at Delhi Technical University.

The city’s minimum temperature settled 0.2 notches above normal at 10.4 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department said. - PTI

Of the 38 monitoring stations that recorded air quality data, none reported levels in the severe category, according to the CPCB data. On Tuesday, 17 of the national capital’s 39 monitoring stations recorded air quality in the ‘severe’ category. - PTI

At 9 am on Wednesday, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 301, compared to a reading of 343 at 9 am on Tuesday, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. A thick layer of haze continued to blanket the national capital. - PTI

Pollution levels in Delhi decreased slightly on Wednesday morning with the air quality nearing the ‘poor’ category. An 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’. - PTI

CAQM has also directed coal-based TPPs including co-generating Captive TPPs situated in NCR to (i) initiate immediate steps to co-fire biomass-based pellets (with a focus on paddy straw utilization) with coal through a continuous and uninterrupted supply chain targeting at least 5% co-firing of biomass pellets. (ii) TPPs to strictly comply with the standards of emissions, at all times and with immediate effect, as stipulated vide MoEFCC’s Notification S.O. 3305(E), dated 07.12.2015 and its amendments from, time to time. - ANI

Amid declining air quality and rising pollution in the Delhi- NCR region, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Monday highlighted the possible factors responsible for the air pollution.

The pollution in Delhi and NCR is a collective result of multiple factors including high levels of anthropogenic activities in the high-density populated areas which include vehicular pollution, industrial pollution, dust from construction and demolition activities, road and open areas dust, biomass burning, municipal solid waste burning, fires in landfills and air pollution from dispersed sources, a release said. - ANI

Delhi’s air quality further deteriorated this morning to reach a near ‘severe’ category (401-450) even as a clear sky and sunshine helped to check the fall in temperature.

At 11 am, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 383, compared with 294 on Monday, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. As many as 13 of the national capital’s 39 monitoring stations recorded AQI in the ‘severe’ category (above 400) at 11 am. Lodi Road, which used to have the best air quality compared to other places, also recorded 343 AQI, which is very high in the current scenario. Not a single spot in Delhi had below 300 AQI on Monday. The highest was in Anand Vihar at 426.

Delhi woke up to ‘very poor’ air quality on Tuesday morning, showing a slight improvement from the past week of ‘severe’ air quality, as per the Central Pollution Control Board.At 7 am, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 382, falling under the ‘very poor’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.A thick layer of smog covered the National Capital as the Air Quality Index in several areas continues to remain in the ‘Very Poor’ category. - PTI

Hours after the Commission for the Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Monday ordered that all classes up to standard 12 be conducted in hybrid mode (combining both physical and online modes), the Directorate of Education of the Delhi Government, has issued directions to all schools in the national capital to follow CAQM’s order.“State governments in the NCR shall ensure that all classes up to 12th Standard are conducted in a ‘hybrid” mode, i.e., both in “physical” and also in “online” modes, wherever online mode is feasible in the territorial jurisdiction of the NCT of Delhi and the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar in the NCR,” said the CAQM order. - ANI

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the national capital region and adjoining areas to consider restarting physical classes in schools and colleges noting many students lacked mid-day meals and infrastructure to attend online classes.

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih said a large number of students did not have air purifiers at home and therefore there may not be a difference between children at home and those attending schools.

As the air quality index (AQI) in Delhi and adjoining areas turns below 300 level on Monday after a gap of 26 days, the Supreme Court may have to consider it when it will decide whether to relax the Stage-IV restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) under ‘Severe+’ category (above 450 AQI) in force since November 18. However, the AQI started moving up soon and reached 324 level by afternoon. The average daily AQI was 268 on October 29.

At 8 am Monday the AQI in Delhi recorded 281, but deteriorated to 285 by 9 am, 292 by 10 am and 294 by 11 am, according to data of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). At 2 pm, the average AQI in Delhi was 324.

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The Met office has forecast moderate fog during the morning or night hours, with the maximum temperature expected to hover around 28 degrees Celsius. - PTI

15 of Delhi’s 39 monitoring stations recorded an AQI in the ‘very poor’ category. Shadipur had the worst AQI with a reading of 353. - PTI

An 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’. - PTI

As the air quality index (AQI) in Delhi and adjoining areas turns below 300 level on Monday after a gap of 26 days, the Supreme Court may have to consider it when it will decide whether to relax the Stage-IV restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) under ‘Severe+’ category (above 450 AQI) in force since November 18. The average daily AQI was 268 on October 29.

At 9 am Monday the AQI in Delhi recorded 285, but deteriorated to 292 by 10 am and 294 by 11 am, according to data of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

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As winter grips parts of the country, the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra looked ethereal amid a thin layer of smog this morning. - ANI

Amidst the rising pollution levels in Delhi, the government has instructed the administration to use truck-mount water sprinklers to mitigate the effects of air pollution. Visuals from the Shaheen Bagh area show a truck-mounted water sprinkler spraying water on road.An air quality index (AQI) between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 is poor, 301-400 is very poor and 401-500 is severe. - ANI

Drone visuals from the area around Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) also showed haze filled atmosphere as the AQI remains in ‘poor’ category. Likewise, the Akshardham Temple in the Pandav Nagar area of Delhi remained concealed in a thin layer of smog. - ANI

Visuals show commuters make their way to work, office as a haze of smoke and fog engulfs the city. People engaged in their routine morning walks, while others were seen jogging and excercising near Kartavya Path today morning. - ANI

Drone visuals captured frothy layer of toxic foam in River Yamuna in the Kalindi Kunj area, as the pollution level in the river continues to remain high. - ANI

The air quality in the national capital witnessed a slight improvement in comparison to last week, as the AQI dipped from hazardous to an unhealthy level on Monday morning.

According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the overall AQI in Delhi was recorded at 281 as of 8 am as a thin layer of haze covered parts of the city this morning.The air quality index in the metropolitan city was reeling under the ‘severe plus’ category for 4-5 days in the past week. - ANI

Delhi’s air quality improved to ‘poor’ on Monday, according to the latest CPCB data.

At 9 am, the national capital’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 281, compared to 318 at 4 pm on Sunday, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed.

An 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’.

However, 15 of Delhi’s 39 monitoring stations recorded an AQI in the ‘very poor’ category. Shadipur had the worst AQI with a reading of 353. - PTI

The air quality in the national capital improved from the ‘severe’ to the ‘very poor’ category on Sunday morning.

At 8 am, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 357, falling under the ‘very poor’ category, compared to the 24-hour average AQI of 412 at 4 pm on Saturday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

However, Anand Vihar remained in the ‘severe’ category with an AQI of 404.- PTI

Suspension of physical classes in all schools across Noida and Greater Noida in Gautam Buddh Nagar has been extended till November 25, an official order said on Saturday.

The physical classes were suspended by the district administration last week in view of harmful levels of air quality in the region.

“In view of the instructions given by the District Magistrate, Gautam Buddha Nagar on November 18, regarding the discontinuation of physical classes from pre-school to class 12 due to the breach of Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi-NCR to Severe+ category with (450+AQI), all schools of the District Gautam Buddh Nagar are directed to follow the above order till November 25,” stated the order issued by Dharamvir Singh, District Inspector of Schools (DIOS). - PTI

The air quality in the national capital improved from the ‘severe’ to the ‘very poor’ category on Sunday morning.

At 8 am, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 357, falling under the ‘very poor’ category, compared to the 24-hour average AQI of 412 at 4 pm on Saturday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

However, Anand Vihar remained in the ‘severe’ category with an AQI of 404.

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Residents in the national capital complained of breathing difficulties as the air quality in Delhi remained in the ‘very poor’ category on Sunday for the third week post-Diwali.According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the overall AQI in Delhi was recorded at 362 as of 8 am on Sunday with the national capital engulfed by a thick layer of smog. - ANI

Rising pollution levels in Delhi are impacting pets and street animals, causing health issues and behavioural changes that have concerned pet owners and animal welfare activists, veterinarians said.

Many animals are experiencing respiratory problems, with symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, vomiting, diarrhea, and chest congestion attributed to the city’s worsening air quality, they said.

Sumit Nagar, a consulting veterinary doctor with the Delhi Forest and Wildlife Department, said that there has been an increase in cases of respiratory distress among animals.

Animals face issues similar to humans, including suffocation, lung damage, and respiratory inflammation. During during Diwali, there are additional cases of shock from noise pollution and burns, particularly in monkeys that accidentally touch wires, he said.

People living in the national capital New Delhi woke up on Saturday to a thick layer of smog and foggy weather after Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city fell back into ‘Severe’ category.AQI measured in Delhi at 8 am was 420 as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai conducted a late-night inspection in Delhi’s border areas to review the enforcement of GRAP-4 anti-pollution measures and said 135 to 165 trucks violating the restrictions are being turned away daily.

“Late tonight, visited the Narela/Singhu border and inspected the implementation of GRAP-4,” Rai posted on X.

Speaking at site, Rai said that complaints have been received about unauthorised vehicles being allowed entry at Delhi’s borders.

“Today, we received multiple complaints about unauthorised vehicles entering Delhi through various borders without being checked. That’s why we came here to inspect the situation,” Rai said.

During the inspection late Friday night, Rai said that between 135 to 165 trucks are being turned away daily from November 18 at Delhi’s borders for violating the restrictions imposed under Graded Response Action Plan-4.

Only CNG, electric, and BS-VI compliant vehicles are allowed entry into the city, while all other trucks are banned to reduce pollution levels, the minister said.

He added that strict penalties are being imposed on violators. “Those who fail to comply are being fined,” he said.

Rai also appealed to truck owners and drivers to follow the restrictions, emphasising that the ban is necessary to tackle Delhi’s severe air pollution.

He also issued strict instructions to officials to ensure no lapses occur in enforcement. “As long as GRAP-4 is in place, all measures must be strictly followed.

India plans to count toxic farm fires by monitoring the burnt area they leave rather than the current method of using orbiting satellites to measure live fires.

Here is a look at how India counts farm fires - a major contributor to severe pollution in the north - and why its method is being questioned.

WHY ARE FARM FIRES LIT?

Farmers in India light fires, in violation of laws that bar the practice, to quickly clear crop waste or stubble left behind after paddy is harvested so that they can plant wheat.

Although the government offers subsidies on harvesting machines that can replace this method, demand has been low due to their high price or long wait for those looking to rent them.

HOW DOES INDIA MONITOR FARM FIRES?

Officials say satellites are the only way to monitor farm fires since they capture a much larger area.

India’s space agency procures data from two orbiting NASA satellites that pass over the northern breadbasket states of Punjab and Haryana, among others, twice a day - around 10.30 am (0500 GMT) and 1.30 pm (0800 GMT).

This is then shared with the government to count farm fires.

IS THIS METHOD FOOLPROOF?

NASA satellites only capture instances of farm fires during the limited period when they are passing over the region, which takes them 90 seconds. They therefore only capture any blaze visible at that time or lit in the previous half hour.

Experts suspect that farmers have, over time, become aware of this surveillance period and shifted the time of burning their crop waste to evade the NASA satellites.

WHY IS IT BEING QUESTIONED NOW?

An adviser to the Supreme Court, which is monitoring pollution management by authorities in the national capital region, this week said there was a discrepancy in the farm fire data obtained from orbiting and stationary satellites.

Citing information given by a senior scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, she said that a South Korean stationary satellite had captured farm fires at 4.20 pm (1050 GMT), well after the NASA satellites had moved on.

WHAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE?

The court had directed the federal government to procure data of farm fires from stationary satellites as an alternative but the government said this data is “sub-optimal”.

Instead, India’s space agency is working on a system to count farm fires by studying the burnt area they leave behind.

India’s government plans to clamp down on polluting farm fires by measuring the areas burnt instead of live blazes, after reports that farmers were burning paddy waste or stubble at times when satellites were not passing overhead.

India currently uses data from NASA satellites that pass twice a day over the northern states of Punjab and Haryana to monitor farm fires, which are a major contributor to the smog that envelopes the national capital region (NCR) each winter.

The Commission for Air Quality Management, a government body responsible for air quality in the NCR, said on Friday that India’s space agency had been asked in January to develop a system to study burnt areas to count farm fires.

“That protocol has actually been developed and is currently being tested,” Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati told the Supreme Court after an adviser to the court said on Monday that the current system counted fires over a limited time.

Some experts suspect that farmers have, over time, become aware of the surveillance period and shifted the time of burning their crop waste to evade the NASA satellites, because of which while counts were lower this year, pollution levels were not.

The government said on Friday that data from stationary satellites was “sub optimal” and not “actionable”, dismissing an earlier direction from the court to use them instead.

Delhi has been battling hazardous air this month, with the air quality index (AQI) touching a peak of 494 on a scale of 500 on Monday, when farm fires also recorded a high of 2,893, prompting the government to restrict vehicle movement and construction and shift schools to online teaching.

India considers an AQI of 0-50 ‘good’, and above 400 ‘severe’, which poses a risk to healthy people and “seriously impacts” those with existing diseases.

Delhi recorded a ‘very poor’ AQI of 374 on Friday, authorities said, and the Ministry of Earth Sciences forecast it would remain in the same category (300-400) through this week.

Other countries in South Asia also battle toxic air every year as cold air traps dust, smoke, and emissions, and some studies say rising air pollution can cut a person’s life expectancy in the region by more than five years. 

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has called for strict enforcement and coordinated implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across all departments amid Delhi’s worsening air pollution.

Rai has written to Chief Secretary Dharmendra urging personal oversight to ensure that recent improvements in air quality are sustained and further enhanced.

Delhi’s air quality was categorised as “severe” on Sunday, with the AQI reaching 450. In response, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) invoked emergency measures under GRAP 4, which took effect on Monday morning and remain in force.

Despite a slight improvement to an AQI reading of 371 on Thursday, air quality again worsened on Friday, pushing it back near to the “severe” category with an AQI of 393, according to CPCB data.

In his letter, Rai stressed that the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi recently crossed the “severe plus” category, reaching levels above 450, posing serious health risks to the residents.

The Centre on Friday opposed in the Supreme court a proposal to form a committee of former apex court judges to oversee the implementation of measures to curb stubble burning, a key contributor to Delhi-NCR’s air pollution.

The suggestion was put forth before a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih, hearing a case related to the rising pollution in Delhi-NCR, by senior advocate and amicus curiae Aparajita Singh.

She sought to leverage the expertise of judges as part of the proposed fact-finding committee.

The Supreme Court on Friday appointed 13 members of the Bar as court commissioners to visit the entry points to Delhi and verify whether entry of trucks is being stopped.

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Asserting that air pollution in North India is a “national emergency”, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday urged fellow MPs to come together in the upcoming Parliament session and discuss how the nation can end this crisis once and for all.

He said the air pollution crisis needs a collective national response, not political blame games.

Gandhi shared a video on X in which he is discussing the air pollution issue with environmentalist Vimlendu Jha at the India Gate here.

SC says it will review next week whether GRAP-4 restrictions needs to be relaxed. Says consequences of GRAP-4 are drastic, may have adverse effects on several sections of society. 

The Supreme Court on Friday questioned the Delhi government over the entry of trucks in the national capital, currently reeling under severe air pollution.

“It is very difficult for us to assume that entry of trucks in Delhi has been stopped,” observed a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih.

The bench therefore said it proposes to direct the Centre to depute police personnel at all 113 points to check the entry of trucks in Delhi.

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Air pollution case: SC asks Delhi government how they stop entry of trucks in national capital. Says “It is very difficult for us to assume entry of trucks in Delhi have been stopped.”

With Stage-IV restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) under ‘Severe+’ category (above 450 AQI) in force in Delhi and adjoining areas, the air quality index (AQI) remained under ‘very poor’ category (301-400 AQI), recording 379 at 12 noon Friday. The AQI was 365 at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Experts said that curbs need to be monitored stringently and complimented the Commission for Air Quality Management’s (CAQM) for not immediately relaxing after AQI improves. “There is long way to travel to reach 151 AQI recorded on October 1 (when winter season started),” said Himanshu Dixit, an anti-pollution activist.

The CAQM on Wednesday revised the GRAP guidelines, mandating the closure of schools in Delhi and NCR districts (Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar) under Stages 3 and 4 of the plan. Earlier, the decision to implement these measures was left to the discretion of the State governments.

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Photo by: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap/The Hindu

In an effort to curb pollution levels, the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) carried out night cleaning and sweeping of roads at several locations in the national capital early Friday morning.Vice Chairman of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kuljeet Singh Chahal was present during the cleaning drive and stated that the initiative aims to achieve a “garbage-free NDMC.” - ANI

People in Delhi woke up to a hazy morning with a minimum temperature of 11.3 degrees Celsius as the air quality remained in the “very poor” category recording an overall AQI of 373.

Out of 38 monitoring stations in the city, nine reported Air Quality Index (AQI) readings in the “severe” range.

These stations are Anand Vihar, Bawana, Jahangirpuri, Mundka, Nehru Nagar, Shadipur, Sonia Vihar, Vivek Vihar, and Wazirpur, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

In an effort to curb pollution levels, the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) carried out night cleaning and sweeping of roads at several locations in the national capital early Friday morning.Vice Chairman of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kuljeet Singh Chahal was present during the cleaning drive and stated that the initiative aims to achieve a “garbage-free NDMC.”

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As the air quality in the national capital was reported to be in ‘very poor’ category with a thin layer of smog, the stubble burning continued in parts of Punjab on Thursday.

Meanwhile, according to the data of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded in Delhi was 379, categorised as ‘very poor, as of 8 am on Thursday.

As of 8 am, according to the data of the CPCB, the AQI measured at Chandani Chowk was 338, IGI Airport (T3) was 370, ITO was 355, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was 354, RK Puram was 387, Okhla Phase 2 was 370, Patparganj was 381, Sonia Vihar was 394 and Aya Nagar was 359, categorized as ‘very poor’.

However, various places in Delhi are still in the cap of ‘severe’ category air pollution, as the AQI in Anand Vihar was 405, Ashok Vihar was 414, Bawana was 418, Dwarka Sector-8 was 401, Mundka was 413 and Wazirpur was 436.

However, Punjab recorded its highest single-day count of stubble-burning incidents this season on Monday, with 1,251 cases reported.

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The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) comprehensively reviewed sector-specific enforcement actions taken by the concerned NCR State governments/Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) and Punjab to abate air pollution in the region.During the 18th meeting of the Sub-Committee on Safeguarding and Enforcement held on Wednesday ordered to ensure strict enforcement of measures to control air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR)According to the press release of CAQM, after a detailed review of action taken by NCR State Governments/ GNCTD, the following directions were given by the Commission in which “(a) mismatch in a number of cases where EC has imposed and the cases where FIR has been filed u/s 223 of BNS, 2023 needs to be sorted out for Punjab and Haryana).”“Gap in cumulative amount of EC imposed and EC realised needs to analysed and redressed on an urgent basis. Inspection protocol for verification of fire incidences be revised to within 24 hrs from 48 hours, especially by Punjab,”

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The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday imposed a fine of over ₹50 crore on the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Delhi Jal Board for violating environmental rules.

The NGT observed that the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) failed to discharge its statutory duties in preventing sewage discharge into storm water drains which meet river Yamuna. It said the MCD had acted beyond its authority to alter the conditions and functional efficacy of a storm water drain in South Delhi. - PTI

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) comprehensively reviewed sector-specific enforcement actions taken by the concerned NCR State governments/Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) and Punjab to abate air pollution in the region. - ANI

In an effort to curb pollution levels, the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) carried out night cleaning and sweeping of roads at several locations in the national capital early Friday morning.

Vice Chairman of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kuljeet Singh Chahal was present during the cleaning drive and stated that the initiative aims to achieve a “garbage-free NDMC.”

As the air quality in the national capital was reported to be in ‘very poor’ category with a thin layer of smog, the stubble burning continued in parts of Punjab on Thursday.

Incidents of stubble burning were reported in a field in Bathinda. - ANI

Union Minister of State Tokhan Sahu on Thursday drove a tractor mounted with baler in Punjab’s Moga district which made bundles of straw, as he appealed to farmers not to burn stubble and make use of the machines for management.

“Stubble burning has a harmful impact on the environment. I want to appeal to all farmers not to burn stubble,” the MoS for Housing and Urban Affairs said after driving the tractor in the fields in a Moga village.

His symbolic act of driving the tractor mounted with baler which made bales of the straw comes at a time when many states in northern India are grappling with heightened pollution levels.

Machines are available to make bales of straw, he said while appealing the farmers to make use of the machinery.

Notably, stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana after harvesting the paddy crop in October and November is often blamed for the rise in air pollution in Delhi.

Delhi emerged as the most polluted city in India, recording an average PM2.5 level of 243.3 micrograms per cubic metre air (µg/m³), with pollution surging by 19.5 per cent in week-on-week increase, according to a report released on Thursday.

According to the Air Quality Analysis Report by Respirer Living Sciences, which analysed PM2.5 levels across 281 Indian cities from November 3 to 16, Delhi was ranked last, holding position 281.

The prominent pollutant was PM2.5—fine particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, roughly the width of a human hair.

These particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, posing significant health risks, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav on Thursday called for an increase in the city’s green cover, as Delhi and adjoining areas continue to breathe an inordinately polluted air.

Speaking at FICCI’s 97th AGM and Annual Convention themed ‘Our Actions for Viksit Bharat,’ Yadav also called for strict implementation of Central Pollution Control Board guidelines to address the region’s persistent air pollution.

“We recognise that the unique climatic conditions during this period pose a significant challenge in Delhi-NCR. To address this, one of the measures we took was upgrading vehicles in Delhi to cleaner BS-VI fuel, ensuring a substantial reduction in emissions,” he said.

“Our aim is to advance efforts in planting more trees to mitigate pollution further,’ he added.

He claimed that an adherence to CPCB guidelines and the Centre’s focus on promoting sustainable alternatives has led to a significant shift in fuel use across the Delhi-NCR.

The Centre of Thursday announced staggered working hours for its employees in Delhi to aid the fight against pollution as the city reeled under “very poor” air quality even though the AQI fell below the 400-mark after several days.

According to an order issued by the Union Personnel Ministry, employees have been advised carpooling and use of public transport to minimise vehicular pollution. “Offices can operate from 9 am to 5.30 pm or from 10 am to 6.30 pm,” the order stated.

These measures may be adopted by ministries, departments, and organisations based on their functional requirements, ensuring that there is no adverse impact on efficiency and productivity,” the order further added.

Amidst the rising pollution levels in Delhi, the government has instructed the administration to use truck-mount water sprinklers to mitigate the effects of air pollution.A layer of smog has engulfed several parts of Delhi, but the quality of the air improved marginally. After the air quality in the national capital reeled into ‘severe’ and ‘severe plus’ category for the past few days, the level of air pollution slightly improved on Thursday as the air quality fell into to ‘very poor’ category with a thin layer of smog reducing visibility in several parts of Delhi.

According to the data of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded in Delhi was 378, categorised as ‘very poor’, as of 11 am on Thursday.Toxic foam continued to persist on the surface of the Yamuna River for the past several days in the Kalindi Kunj area, as the pollution level in the river continues to remain high.

After a week of “severe” pollution levels in Delhi, the city’s air quality improved slightly but still remained “very poor”, as it recorded the season’s lowest temperature on Thursday morning.

Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 10.2 degree Celsius, 2.1 notch below the season’s average, the India Meteorological Department said.

At 9 am, the national capital recorded an AQI of 376, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The weather department has predicted shallow fog during the day.

On Sunday, Delhi’s air quality was recorded in the severe category, prompting authorities to impose the GRAP-IV measures. On Monday and Tuesday, it worsened further, reaching the severe plus category, with the AQI exceeding 450.

By Wednesday, the AQI showed slight improvement but remained in the severe category.

An 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”.

The IMD said the city’s maximum temperature is likely to settle around 27 degrees Celsius. The humidity at 8.30 am was 80 per cent.

“Most important thing is to address pollution,” says UNICEF India Representative Cynthia McCaffrey - ANI

The Delhi Police directed social media and e-commerce platforms to immediately cease the online sale and delivery of firecrackers within the National Capital Territory (NCT) amid rising air pollution levels.According to an official statement issued on Wednesday, the directive comes in a bid to protect the health and well-being of citizens directly due to increasing pollution and to prevent sale of firecrackers through e-commerce platforms.“ As a crucial step in protecting the health and well-being of citizens getting directly affected due to increasing pollution and to prevent sale of firecrackers through e-commerce platforms, providing delivery options to addresses within NCT of Delhi, e-Commerce Websites/Social Media Platforms have been directed in writing through an e-mail, yesterday dated 19.11.2024,” Delhi police said in its statement. - ANI

After the air quality in the national capital reeled into ‘severe’ and ‘severe plus’ category for the past few days, the level of air pollution slightly improved on Thursday as the air quality fell into to ‘very poor’ category with a thin layer of smog reducing visibility in several parts of Delhi.According to the data of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded in Delhi was 379, categorised as ‘very poor, as of 8 am on Thursday.

As of 8 am, according to the data of the CPCB, the AQI measured at Chandani Chowk is 338, IGI Airport (T3) is 370, ITO is 355, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is 354, RK Puram is 387, Okhla Phase 2 is 370, Patparganj is 381, Sonia Vihar is 394 and Aya Nagar is 359, categorized as ‘very poor’.However, various places in Delhi are still in the cap of ‘severe’ category air pollution, as the AQI in Anand Vihar is 405, Ashok Vihar is 414, Bawana is 418, Dwarka Sector-8 is 401, Mundka is 413 and Wazirpur is 436.This situation has affected the rail movements in the region with several trains either getting late or rescheduled.

The Delhi Police directed social media and e-commerce platforms to immediately cease the online sale and delivery of firecrackers within the National Capital Territory (NCT) amid rising air pollution levels.

According to an official statement issued on Wednesday, the directive comes in a bid to protect the health and well-being of citizens directly due to increasing pollution and to prevent sale of firecrackers through e-commerce platforms.“ As a crucial step in protecting the health and well-being of citizens getting directly affected due to increasing pollution and to prevent sale of firecrackers through e-commerce platforms, providing delivery options to addresses within NCT of Delhi, e-Commerce Websites/Social Media Platforms have been directed in writing through an e-mail, yesterday dated 19.11.2024,” Delhi police said in its statement.Platforms have been instructed to remove firecracker listings, disable services for customers in Delhi, implement location-based restrictions to block sales and deliveries within the city, publish notices informing users about the prohibition in compliance with legal orders, and ensure delivery partners do not accept, transport, or deliver firecracker-related consignments during the ban period.The platforms have also been requested to provide written confirmation of their compliance.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast moderate to dense fog over Delhi-NCR in the coming days, potentially exacerbating the pollution crisis by trapping particulate matter closer to the ground.CAQM’s amendments and GRAP’s expanded scope signify a renewed push for coordinated efforts to combat air pollution. However, experts stress the urgent need for sustainable and preventative measures to ensure long-term improvements in air quality across the region.

Environmentalist Vimlendu Jha described the GRAP Stage IV measures as “similar to lockdown” but cautioned they are only temporary solutions.He highlighted the need for comprehensive, long-term strategies to address systemic causes of pollution, such as stubble burning, which has contributed significantly to the crisis.“This is the second day when the air quality index of Delhi NCR has been in the severe plus category. Glad that the government or Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has announced GRAP IV measures to be executed in Delhi NCR. It was important that these similar to lockdown measures are implemented in Delhi but we need to understand that this is not a solution,” he said.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has amended the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), introducing stricter measures to address escalating air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR).According to the revisions, it will now be mandatory for NCR states to discontinue physical classes up to Class V under GRAP Stage III and up to Class XII under GRAP Stage IV. This marks a significant policy shift, removing the discretionary power previously held by state governments.The amended GRAP also includes a new directive under Stage III, requiring state governments to implement staggered timings for public offices and municipal bodies to reduce traffic congestion and associated emissions. This measure reflects the commission’s commitment to proactive and coordinated action against deteriorating air quality in the region.

The Centre’s pollution watchdog on Wednesday revised the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), mandating the closure of schools in Delhi and NCR districts under Stages 3 and 4 of the plan.

Previously, the decision to implement these measures was left to the discretion of the state governments.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and adjoining areas on Wednesday revised the GRAP, mandating the closure of schools in Delhi and the NCR districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar under Stages 3 and 4.

An additional directive under Stage 3 of the GRAP now requires the state governments to stagger the timings of public offices and municipal bodies in Delhi and the aforementioned NCR districts.

For other NCR districts, the decision on office timings remains at the discretion of the respective state governments, according to the order.

Previously, under Stage 3, the state governments could decide whether to halt physical classes for the students up to Class 5 and transition to online learning.

Similarly, under Stage 4, they had the option to discontinue in-person classes for the students in classes 6 to 9 and 11.

However, the revised GRAP now makes these measures mandatory for Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar, while allowing other NCR districts the flexibility to decide, it said.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court reprimanded the CAQM for delaying the implementation of Stages 3 and 4 of the GRAP and emphasized the immediate need for closure of schools across NCR until further orders.

The Supreme Court also directed the CAQM to adopt stricter measures under Stages 3 and 4, ensuring that implementation is no longer left to the discretion of local authorities.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital has been in the severe category since Sunday. On Monday and Tuesday, it escalated to the Severe Plus category, with readings exceeding 450. However, there was slight improvement on Wednesday, as the 24-hour average AQI stood at 419, still within the severe category.

A recent survey has revealed that a staggering 75 per cent of families in the Delhi NCR region, which is grappling with deteriorating air quality, have at least one member suffering from sore throat or cough.

The survey, conducted by LocalCircles, an online community platform, found that 58 per cent of the surveyed families reported experiencing headaches due to rising pollution levels, while 50 per cent had a family member dealing with breathing difficulties or asthma. Click Here To Read More

The National Green Tribunal has directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to provide complete details about the removal of waste on the banks of Yamuna river in the national capital.

The green body was hearing a plea saying domestic, dry and waste garbage had been dumped on the banks of river Yamuna in Wazirabad and Jagatpur villages.

In an order passed on November 13, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava noted the submissions of the counsel for MCD that the cleaning work was in progress in the entire stretch of 4.3 kilometres and that 10 workers had been deployed at the spot.

The bench also comprising judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Afroz Ahmad said that the petitioner had contested the civic body’s claim that cleaning works were ongoing.

“Hence, we require the MCD to furnish the full detail of the extent of garbage waste, debris etc. removed from the stretch in question, extent to which the stretch has been cleared, manpower, machine utilised for that purpose, the place to which the garbage removed from the stretch in question is taken, how it is utilised and also the timeline for completely clearing the stretch,” the tribunal said.

It said the details had to be provided within four weeks.

The matter has been posted on March 6 for further proceedings.

The Delhi government on Wednesday announced that all government offices functioning under the Delhi Government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi will operate with 50 per cent of the staff strength and the remaining 50 per cent of staff will work from home in view of the deteriorating air quality in the national capital.The national capital has been witnessing ‘severe’ levels of air quality for the past couple of days.“In pursuance of Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) Order dated 17.11.2024 and directions contained in the judgment dated 18.11.2024 of Hon’ble Supreme Court in W.P. (C) No. 13029/1985; all government offices functioning under Government of NCT of Delhi and Municipal Corporation of Delhi shall operate with 50 per cent of the staff strength and the remaining 50% staff will work from home,” the Delhi government stated in the notice.“All Administrative Secretaries and Heads of Departments of GNCTD shall attend their respective offices and call upon relevant officers/officials as per the requirement to ensure uninterrupted delivery of all essential and emergency public services,” it added.The order further read that hospitals and other public health-related establishments, fire services, prisons, public transport, electricity, water, sanitation and related Municipal services and other essential services are exempted from this order.“The order shall be implemented with immediate effect till Stage IV of the GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) is in force. This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority,” it added.

India ranked 10th on a list of over 60 countries assessed for efforts to fight climate change despite dropping two spots compared to last ago, thanks to its low per capita emissions and rapid deployment of renewables, a report said on Wednesday.

The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI 2025) report, released at the annual UN climate conference here, leaves the first three places empty followed by Denmark (fourth place) and the Netherlands while the largest two emitters, China and the US, remain very low at 55th and 57th place, respectively.

Published by think tanks Germanwatch, New Climate Institute, and Climate Action Network International, the CCPI tracks the progress of the world’s largest emitters in terms of emissions, renewables, and climate policy.

The 63 countries, along with the European Union, assessed in the CCPI are responsible for 90 per cent of global emissions.

India ranks 10th in this year’s CCPI, remaining among the highest performers.

However, noting that significant changes in India’s climate policy are unlikely, the CCPI report said the growth-oriented approach to climate action is expected to continue or intensify, driven by rising energy demand from industry and the growing population.

“While India is the world’s most populous country, it has relatively low per capita emissions and energy use. Renewables have expanded rapidly over the last decade, and India aspires to play a leading role in green energy on the global stage,” the international climate think tanks observed.

India’s per capita emissions stand at 2.9 tons of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e), far below the global average of 6.6 tCO2e. The country, the world’s third-largest greenhouse gas emitter and the fastest growing major economy, has pledged to reach net zero emissions (balancing emissions with removals) by 2070 and aims to achieve 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030, Indian official data shows.

According to CCPI experts, over the past year, India has made considerable progress in renewable energy policy, particularly with large-scale solar power projects and the launch of the Rooftop Solar Scheme.

Energy efficiency standards have been introduced, but their coverage remains inadequate, the report said, adding, India is also advancing in electric vehicle deployment, especially with two-wheelers.

The experts said that despite these positive developments, India remains heavily reliant on coal.

“India is among the 10 countries with the largest developed coal reserves and is currently planning to increase its production,” the report said.

The report leaves the first three places empty, as no country performed well enough across all index categories to achieve an overall “very high” rating.

As pollution levels in Delhi - NCR continue to be at worrying levels, hospitals and doctors in the region are witnessing a spike in lung-related complaints and illnesses. Observation across hospital OPDs suggest that emergency visits for respiratory issues spiked by 20–30 per cent during this season. 

Children below 15 years of age and those above 55 years continue to be amongst the most vulnerable and at risk; while risk groups are being detected. These include pregnant women and also a segment of patients who are developing post-operative lung or bronchial complications because of the pollution. 

According to Dr Harsh Mahajan, Chair, FICCI Health Services Committee, the chances of a long-term epidemic of lung diseases including chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, reduction of lung volumes as including cancer cannot be ruled out. Read More

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Other Indian states enjoy fresh air while Delhi grapples with worsening air quality

Delhi faces severe air quality issues under GRAP 4, while parts of Northeast and South India remain unaffected.

Half of the staff in Delhi government offices will work from home while private organisations have been urged to follow suit amid alarmingly high air pollution in the national capital.

However, essential services such as healthcare, sanitation, public transport, fire services, law enforcement, power supply, water treatment, and emergency response operations will continue to work in full capacity to ensure public services remain unaffected.

Nearly 80 departments and different agencies in the Delhi government, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, employ approximately 1.4 lakh people.

On Wednesday, Delhi witnessed yet another dawn with a blanket of toxic air as it recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 426 in the “severe” category, which followed the coldest night of the season in the city so far. Residents have reported eye irritation, respiratory discomfort, and other health issues.

Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai, in a post on X, said 50 per cent of the staff in government offices will work from home.

He also urged private offices, industries and businesses to implement similar measures to help mitigate the city’s air pollution crisis.

Rai suggested that private entities consider shifting office hours to begin between 10:30 am and 11:00 am to reduce vehicular congestion during peak hours. “Adjusting office timings will not only ease traffic pressure but also curb vehicle emissions,” he said.

To address vehicular pollution, the government has advised companies with a large workforce to arrange shuttle bus services for employees, similar to the measures the Delhi government has implemented for its own staff.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced on Wednesday that the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has shown slight improvement over the past two days, and reassured that the government is taking active steps to further reduce pollution levels in the national capital.Gopal Rai said that he is scheduled to chair a meeting here at the secretariat in view of the implementation of the measure wherein 50 per cent government employees will switch to work-from-home mode to tackle pollution in Delhi.Speaking to ANI, Rai said, “If we compare the last 2 days, a slight decline is being recorded in the AQI of Delhi and we hope that further improvement will be seen. Our effort is to reduce the level of pollution in Delhi as much as possible, for which the government is taking many steps. It has been decided to work 50 per cent from home apart from the departments of the Delhi government which provide essential services.”

Most of India’s coal-burning plants are set to again fall short of a major pollution target, adding to the deadly smog that’s enveloped large parts of the country, says Bloomberg

About three-quarters of the coal-fired generators near major cities are set to miss a year-end deadline to install equipment to curb sulfur-dioxide emissions, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified as the information isn’t public. 

If fully implemented, such systems could cut India’s emissions of the pollutant by almost two-thirds, benefiting air quality and public health, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. Sulfur dioxide breaks down into sulfates, which can account for almost a third of the particulate mass that forms India’s smog, according to Manoj Kumar, an analyst at the Finland-based research group. 

About 20 gigawatts worth of coal plants near cities face the December deadline. Other generators near critically polluted areas must comply by end-2025, and the remainder a year later. The nation first targeted a clean-up of power plant emissions in 2015, and has already delayed compliance targets twice.

After the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage-IV restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) under ‘Severe+’ (above 450 AQI) in Delhi and adjoining areas, the air quality index (AQI) improved in the morning to 424 which falls under ‘severe’ category (400-450 AQI) at 9 AM Wednesday. The AQI was 452 at 9 pm on Tuesday.

The CAQM announcement on GRAP IV came Sunday evening only after Delhi’s daily average AQI rose to 457 at 7 PM from 441 at 4 PM. Several pollution control measures, including shifting of classes in schools to online mode and ban on truck entry came into force from 8 AM November 18.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday wrote to Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav, urging him to convene an emergency meeting with the Delhi Government, IIT Kanpur, and central government departments such as the DGCA, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and Ministry of Defence. The meeting would aim to discuss the immediate implementation of cloud seeding as an emergency measure.Rai stated, “The time has come to carry out artificial rainfall to break the smog layer. Last year, the Delhi Government, in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, explored cloud seeding as an emergency measure to induce rain and reduce air pollution during critical periods. This year, we began preparations in August for cloud seeding, but despite several requests, a meeting has not yet been held.” - ANI

The district administration on Tuesday directed private sector companies in Gurugram to allow work-from-home to half of their staff in view of the high level of air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Gurugram Deputy Commissioner Ajay Kumar in his order issued under GRAP-4, has said that private and corporate sector companies should allow work from home to 50 per cent of their staff from November 20. - PTI

Delhi Police intensifies vehicle checks to enforce GRAP Stage IV rules - ANI

Schools in Rajasthan’s Khairthal-Tijara go online for classes 1 to 5 - PTI

The city’s minimum temperature dropped to 11.1 degrees Celsius Tuesday night, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Vehicles ply on a road as the sky is enveloped with smog after Delhi’s air quality worsened due to air pollution, in New Delhi, India, November 20, 2024. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis

Delhi Environment Minister and AAP leader Gopal Rai announced on Wednesday that government offices in Delhi will switch to work-from-home for 50 per cent of the employees as a measure to curb pollution in the national capital.Taking to his official handle on X, Gopal Rai posted, “To reduce pollution, Delhi government decided to work from home in government offices. 50 per cent employees will work from home.”The Delhi Minister also said that a meeting will be held with concerned officials for the implementation of the measure today in the Secretariat. - ANI

CSS Forum urged the Secretary Department of Personnel and Training to implement flexible working arrangements such as work-from-home or staggered office timings during periods of severe pollution.Read the full report here.

Most of India’s coal-burning plants are set to again fall short of a major pollution target, adding to the deadly smog that’s enveloped large parts of the country.

About three-quarters of the coal-fired generators near major cities are set to miss a year-end deadline to install equipment to curb sulfur-dioxide emissions, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified as the information isn’t public. - Bloomberg

Delhi air quality dips back into ‘severe’ category; smog reduces visibility as AQI touches low levels - ANI

Delhi witnessed yet another dawn with a blanket of toxic air on Wednesday, as the capital recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 426 in the “severe” category, which followed the coldest night of the season in the city so far.

The city’s minimum temperature dropped to 11.1 degrees Celsius Tuesday night, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The drop in temperature combined with dense fog has blanketed the city, reducing visibility to 500 metres as of 8.30 am. The IMD has forecast dense fog to persist throughout the day.

Humidity levels stood at 84 per cent in the morning. The maximum temperature for the day is expected to settle at 25 degrees Celsius.

Delhi had an AQI reading of 426 at 9 am on Wednesday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

An AQI of 400 or higher is classified as “severe,” posing health risks to healthy individuals and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

Half of the staff of Delhi government offices will work from home in view of the pollution levels in the city, Environment minister Gopal Rai said on Wednesday.

In a post on X, Rai said that 50 per cent of the staff in government offices will work from home. Implementation of the provision will be discussed in a meeting with the officers later in the day, he said.

Earlier, the government announced staggered office timings for its offices and the MCD.

The timings of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) offices were fixed from 8.30 am to 5 pm, while that of Delhi government offices were 10 am to 6.30 pm.

After the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage-IV restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) under ‘Severe+’ (above 450 AQI) in Delhi and adjoining areas, the air quality index (AQI) improved in the morning to 424 which falls under ‘severe’ category (400-450 AQI) at 9 AM Wednesday. The AQI was 452 at 9 pm on Tuesday.

Read more here

Delhi Police conducted vehicle checks on Tuesday night to ensure the proper implementation of Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).GRAP Stage IV enforces a ban on the operation of Delhi-registered BS-IV and older diesel-operated medium goods vehicles (MGVs) and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), except those engaged in essential services.Stage IV of GRAP has been in effect since 8:00 AM on November 18, in response to deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR.

The district administration on Tuesday directed private sector companies in Gurugram to allow work-from-home to half of their staff in view of the high level of air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Gurugram Deputy Commissioner Ajay Kumar in his order issued under GRAP-4, has said that private and corporate sector companies should allow work from home to 50 per cent of their staff from November 20.

Issuing the advisory in compliance with the instructions from the Air Quality Management Commission, Kumar said that continuous efforts are being made by the district administration to reduce pollution.

All types of construction activities have been stopped and garbage burning has been banned.

Delhi’s worsening air quality has led to sharp decline in market footfall, significantly impacting businesses’, according to several trader associations.

Rakesh Yadav, president of the Sadar Bazar Trades Association, said that there is a 15 percent decline in footfall in the Sadar market compared to usual days.

“There’s a noticeable decrease in the number of people visiting Sadar Bazar, especially customers from other states who typically come for wholesale shopping. Many are now placing orders online instead of travelling here due to the severe air pollution,” Yadav said.

Similarly, Sanjeev Mehra, president of the Khan Market Traders Association, said that there has been a sharp drop of 60 percent in footfall since the implementation of Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

The Delhi government on Tuesday directed all its hospitals to constitute teams of specialists to tackle patients with respiratory ailments due to the severe air pollution, officials said.

The Delhi Health Department also asked the hospitals to monitor and report daily cases of respiratory ailments, including both outpatient (OPD) and inpatient (IPD) cases, and to promptly flag any unusual increase in the number of cases, it said.

The daily reports are to be shared with Dr. Govind Mawari, Senior Scientist at the Centre for Occupational & Environmental Health (COEH).

The advisory mandates that hospitals designate specialists to address respiratory diseases and ensure comprehensive care for affected patients.

As authorities in the Delhi-NCR impose restrictions to combat the worsening air quality in the region, the brunt of the anti-pollution measures is being faced by daily wage workers involved in construction activities whose lives have to a standstill.

Workers who depend on daily earnings to survive said they are worried their children will starve to death.

Construction and demolition activities (C&D) are banned under the current GRAP-IV measures that came into effect after many parts of Delhi reported “severe-plus” air quality (Air Quality Index above 450).

Suman, a 45-year-old mother of two, says “If we sit at home, what will we eat? What will we feed our children?” She recently renewed her labour card with the hope of receiving government aid but she says it has been a futile exercise. “We don’t have government jobs where salaries come automatically. We survive on daily earnings, and without work, we have nothing,” she adds.

A thick grey haze engulfed the national capital on Tuesday, with AQI soaring to 488. Delhi’s air quality plummeted to the ‘severe plus’ category on Sunday, prompting authorities to impose Stage IV measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Monday.

These measures include a ban on construction and demolition activities, restrictions on truck entries except for those carrying essential items or using clean fuel, and the closure of schools. Offices have also been directed to effect changes for their employees.

For Babu Ram, a 63-year-old construction worker, the ban on C&D activities has exacerbated an already dire financial situation. He has a wife, son, daughter-in-law and grandchild to support, besides having to deal with a debt of Rs 3 lakh.

“There’s no pension for people like me. Schemes like Ladli Behna are riddled with corruption, middlemen take everything and we get nothing,” he says. “If I can’t work, my family won’t survive.” Similarly, Rajesh Kumar, a 42-year-old labourer, says his family in his village in Bihar depends on the money he sends home.

“I have not married yet because I have several responsibilities, including my sister’s wedding, which has left me with a debt of Rs 6 lakh,” he says.

“This happens every year, pollution cripples Delhi, but instead of solving the problem, the government creates more hurdles for people like us,” he adds.

All schools in UP’s NCR districts go online for classes as air pollution increases

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai urges Centre to give its approval for use of artificial rain to help clear the smog. - PTI

Credit: PTI

Credit: ANI

Credit: PTI

Credit: ANI

In Haryana, the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Gurugram, announced that all physical classes up to the 12th standard in Gurugram district will remain suspended from November 19 to November 23, 2024, or until further notice, as per directives from the Director of Secondary Education Haryana and after assessing the Air Quality Index (AQI) situation.

Following Jawaharlal Nehru University’s decision to conduct classes online due to severe pollution and the worsening Air Quality Index in Delhi and the National Capital Region, Jamia Millia Islamia has also decided to shift to online classes until Saturday, November 23.In an official notification on Tuesday, the university stated that “classes shall be conducted in online mode till Saturday, November 23, 2024, with regular classes in physical mode to resume from Monday, November 25.”However, Jamia Millia Islamia clarified that the schedules for examinations and interviews will remain unchanged.

A decision on implementing work-from-home measures and the odd-even scheme will be taken soon to tackle the city’s worsening air quality, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Tuesday.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday said the Centre has not acted on the Delhi government’s repeated requests to allow artificial rain in the national capital and he will again write to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.

Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday declined the request of some senior lawyers asking for complete virtual functioning of courts and emphasized the importance of hybrid hearings in courts, allowing lawyers to appear online while also maintaining physical court proceedings - ANI

GRAP should be implemented across North India; rules being violated in BJP-led states: Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai - PTI

Dr B R Ambedkar University shifts to online classes amid deteriorating air quality in Delhi - ANI

“It is PM’s his moral responsibility to act.; Centre should take steps to control pollution. If Central govt can’t act, their minister should resign,” says Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai. - PTI

Will again ask Union Environment Minister to call emergency meeting on pollution, allow artificial rain: Delhi minister Rai. He also says “BJP’s environment minister sleeping over Delhi government’s repeated request to call emergency meet over dire pollution situation.” - PTI

Watch

With Delhi’s air quality once again on hazardous levels, health and climate experts have termed the situation a “public health emergency”, while calling for phasing out of fossil fuels and adopting clean energy solutions.

The capital’s air quality index (AQI) has remained in the “severe” category for days, with PM2.5 concentrations surging past 400 mg/m3 -- far beyond the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safe limit of 15 mg/m3 for 24-hour exposure. - ANI

Fog clouds Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana; air quality deteriorates and reduces visibility - ANI

Calm winds and dropping temperatures made the dispersion of pollutants difficult. Cold air traps dust and smoke from stubble burning in neighbouring areas of Delhi.

The city recorded its coldest night of the season so far on Monday with the mercury dropping to 12.3 degrees Celsius from 16.2 degrees Celsius the night before, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). - PTI

The air quality index (AQI) in Delhi touched a peak of 491 in Delhi on Monday, forcing the government to introduce restrictions on vehicle movement and construction activities, and schools to conduct classes online.Read the report.

We have asked all judges to allow virtual hearings wherever possible, says CJI Sanjiv Khanna.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday criticised the central government over the severe air pollution in the national capital and said that Delhi is the most polluted city in the world, making it nearly uninhabitable from November to January and barely liveable throughout the rest of the year.Shashi Tharoor claimed that it was “unconscionable” that the government had witnessed the ongoing air pollution crisis in Delhi for years without taking adequate action.Sharing a list of ‘Most Polluted Cities’ in their ranking, Shashi Tharoor posted on X, “Delhi is officially the most polluted city in the world, 4x Hazardous levels and nearly five times as bad as the second most polluted city, Dhaka. It is unconscionable that our government has been witnessing this nightmare for years and does nothing about it.”“I have run an Air Quality Round Table for experts and stakeholders, including MPs, since 2015 but gave up last year because nothing seemed to change and no one seemed to care. This city is essentially uninhabitable from November to January inclusive and barely liveable the rest of the year. Should it even remain the nation’s capital?” said Tharoor.

Punjab recorded its highest single-day count of stubble-burning incidents this season, with 1,251 farm fires reported on Monday.According to data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), this has raised the total number of such cases in the state to 9,655.The surge underscores the ongoing challenge of stubble burning, a major contributor to air pollution in northern India. Monday’s figures have surpassed the daily tallies of the past three years, with 701 incidents reported on the same day in 2022 and 637 in 2023.

Delhi University would shift to online classes till November 23 and the Jawaharlal Nehru University till November 22, the varsities announced amid worsening air quality levels in the city.

The decision comes as the air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) reached “alarmingly high” levels, prompting concerns about health and safety. At 4 pm, Delhi’s AQI was 494.

Delhi University in a notification said regular classes in “physical mode” will resume on November 25.

JNU, in its statement, said it would conduct all classes online till November 22.

The schedule of exams and interviews, however, remains unchanged, the universities said.

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Amid worsening air quality in the national capital, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has decided to conduct classes online until November 22, citing severe pollution and hazardous AQI levels in Delhi and the NCR.

In Haryana, the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Gurugram, announced that, as per directives from the Director of Secondary Education Haryana and after assessing the Air Quality Index (AQI) situation, all physical classes up to the 12th standard in Gurugram district will remain suspended from November 19 to November 23, 2024, or until further notice. - ANI

Delhi recorded air pollution more than 17 times above an acceptable level as worsening smog triggered curbs on trucking and shuttered construction sites and schools. - Bloomberg

Delhi’s hazardous air quality was a key focus at COP29, as experts warned about the health risks of air pollution and called for immediate global action.

Aarti Khosla, Director of Climate Trends, sais that Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) had reached dangerous levels, with some areas recording particulate pollution above 1,000 microgram per cubic metre. “Pollution comes from many sources like black carbon, ozone, burning fossil fuels, and farm fires. We need solutions that tackle all of these,” she said.

Khosla also explained that low wind speeds during the La Niña weather pattern are trapping pollutants in the air, making the situation worse. “While we discuss major global issues, millions of people’s health is at risk. We must act fast,” she said.

Courtney Howard, Vice-Chair of the Global Climate and Health Alliance, shared her experience from Canada, where wildfires forced the evacuation of 70 per cent of her population in 2023. “This was expensive, even for a rich country like ours. Poorer nations need financial help to deal with such disasters,” she said. - PTI

With air pollution levels escalating to alarming levels in Delhi and the National Capital Region, the sale of air purifiers and masks have surged significantly, according to traders in the city.

Delhi’s air quality plummeted to the ‘severe plus’ category on Monday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to 484 — its worst reading this season, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

As Delhiites struggles to breathe, traders said the demand for air purifiers and masks have increased as many residents see the equipment as a necessity to safeguard their health.

Vijendra Mohan, the owner of Air Expert India, a dealership in Indirapuram, said their air purifier sales have witnessed a significant increase after air pollution breached the ‘severe’ level.

“Earlier, we used to sell around 20 purifiers a day, sometimes even over two days. Now, the numbers have doubled to 40 per day. Air purifiers have become essential for households, and I am receiving over 150 inquiries daily,” he said.

Rakesh Singh, who runs a Blueair air purifier dealership in Pushp Vihar, said, “Last month, I was selling 10 to 12 air purifiers a day. Now, sales have increased to 25 units daily,” he noted, adding that the spike in demand has been consistent over the past few weeks.

Ravi Kaushik, the owner of Airth Air Purifier Company in Vikaspuri, said he has recorded a 70 per cent jump in sales since late October.

Punjab on Monday reported 1,251 fresh farm fire cases, the single-day highest this season, taking the state’s total count of such cases to 9,655, Punjab Remote Sensing Centre data showed.

On November 8, Punjab reported 730 farm fire incidents, which was the highest in a day this season till Monday.

Muktsar district on Monday reported 247 stubble burning incidents, the most in the state, followed by Moga (149), Ferozepur (130), Bathinda (129), Fazilka (94) and Faridkot (88), the data showed.

On the same day in 2022 and 2023, the state reported 701 and 637 active firm fire cases, respectively, as per the data.

From September 15 till November 18, Punjab witnessed 9,655 stubble burning incidents, registering around 71 per cent dip in crop residue burnings in comparison to the figures reported in the corresponding period of the previous year.

A total of 15 flights were diverted and over 100 flights were delayed at the Delhi airport on Monday as bad weather conditions in the national capital resulted in poor visibility impacting aircraft operations, according to an official.

Air India, SpiceJet and IndiGo informed passengers through X that flights may be affected due to poor visibility conditions in the national capital, which is also grappling with high pollution levels.

Of the 15 flights, 13 were diverted to Jaipur and 1 each to Dehradun and Lucknow, the official said and added that the diversions happened between 8.30 am and 3.30 pm.

Some of the pilots were not trained for CAT III operations due to which flights had to be diverted.

Broadly, CAT III trained pilots are allowed to take off or land planes at very low visibility conditions.

The official also said that more than 100 flights were delayed at the airport due to the bad weather conditions.

Smog can only be cleared by artificial rain or wind; Centre yet to act on Delhi govt’s request on it: Environment Minister Gopal Rai.

Amid worsening air quality, central government staff body seeks WFH, staggered working hours - PTI

14 flights diverted, many delayed due to bad weather - PTI

Toxic haze envelops Delhi, doctors warn of health risks for all - PTI

SC asks Delhi-NCR states to take call on conducting physical classes up to class 12 in view of alarming pollution level - PTI

Delhi recorded air pollution more than 17 times above an acceptable level as worsening smog triggered curbs on trucking and shuttered construction sites and schools. 

The city’s air quality index score touched 1743 at 12:30 p.m. local time Monday, according to IQAir, which collects global pollution data. A level below 101 is considered acceptable, and scores above 300 are regarded as hazardous.

Most trucks were restricted from entering the city, aside from those carrying essential commodities and some less polluting models, after the Commission for Air Quality Management responded to the smog late Sunday with a series of emergency measures.

Officials halted construction activities, including on highways, telecommunications and power transmission, ordered some schools to shift to online learning and encouraged public services to have half employees work from home. 

Meeting called for implementation of GRAP IV rescheduled, Gopal Rai accuses officials of negligency - PTI

Delhi airport: 11 flights diverted, many delayed due to bad weather - PTI

An AQI of 400 or higher is deemed ‘severe,’ and if it exceeds 450, it falls in the ‘severe plus’ category. In 2017, the Centre rolled out the GRAP restrictions for Delhi and its adjoining areas.

It classifies air quality into four stages: Stage 1 - ‘poor’ (AQI 201-300), Stage 2 - ‘very poor’ (AQI 301-400), Stage 3 - ‘severe’ (AQI 401-450), and Stage 4 - ‘severe plus’ (AQI above 450).

IMD has predicted clear skies for Monday and Tuesday over Delhi NCR. The predominant surface wind is likely to come from the northwest direction with a speed of less than 6 kmph during the morning hours on Monday. It also mentioned that smog/moderate to dense fog is likely in the morning, and wind speed will increase thereafter but will still be less than 10 kmph from the northwest direction during the afternoon. It will decrease again, becoming less than 8 kmph from the northwest direction during the evening and night. Dense to very dense fog is likely in the evening/night on Monday.

There was dense toxic smog on Monday morning, which caused visibility to drop sharply in the morning, leading to reduced visibility at airports and other places. The India Meteorological Department said that the visibility at IGI airport was 100 metres at 7.30 am, and in many other places like Chandigarh, Gwalior, and Pathankot, it was 200 metres or less.

The CAQM announcement on GRAP IV came on Sunday evening after Delhi’s daily average AQI rose to 457 at 7 pm, up from 441 at 4 pm.

Delhi’s AQI nears 500; stubble burning, smog worsen air quality. A day after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage-IV restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) under ‘Severe+’ air quality in Delhi and adjoining areas to prevent further deterioration of air quality, the AQI further worsened to 487 at 11 am on Monday. Several pollution control measures, including shifting of classes in schools to online mode and a ban on truck entry, came into force from 8 am on Monday.

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Delhi airport: 9 flights diverted due to bad weather - PTI

Toxic smog in Indian capital more than 60 times WHO limit, says AFP report citing IQAir pollution monitor.