Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is set to spearhead a pivotal high-level meeting at 12 pm today, convened in response to the escalating air pollution crisis gripping the national capital and its adjoining areas in the NCR. The assembly will witness the participation of Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai alongside other senior officials. Marking the fourth consecutive day cloaked under a dense haze, Delhi’s air quality remains entrenched in the ‘severe’ category, according to the latest data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The prevailing conditions, reflected in an overall air quality index (AQI) of 437 recorded at 9 am, perpetuate the dire environmental state in the city.
The high-level meeting to be chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today will be a critical gathering involving key stakeholders encompassing various departments such as transport, MCD, Delhi Police, and Delhi Traffic Police. It will primarily deliberate upon the deployment of Centre’s Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) invoked in Delhi and the NCR on Sunday. The activation of this final phase within the anti-pollution plan is intended when the AQI exceeds the 450 mark in Delhi. However, despite the imminent necessity, proactive implementation had not occurred this time. The CPCB’s AQI readings at 9 am highlight the alarming pollution levels in specific areas: 478 in Bawana, 459 in Dwarka Sector 8, 475 in Jahangirpuri, 466 in Mundka, 460 in Narela, 444 in New Moti Bagh, 446 in Okhla Phase-2, 469 in Punjabi Bagh, 462 in RK Puram, 478 in Rohini, 430 in Siri Fort, and 482 in Wazirpur, among others.
The surge in stubble burning incidents, primarily in Punjab, contributes significantly to the ongoing air pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR. A substantial count of 17,403 cases, including 13,617 instances within the past eight days, exemplifies the gravity of the issue. Sunday alone reported 3,230 farm fire incidents in Punjab and 109 cases in Haryana. Key measures adopted to combat the dire situation include the closure of primary schools in Delhi till November 10, and an extension of the shutdown for schools from classes 6 to 12 until the same date. The capital also witnesses the enforcement of the final stage of the Centre’s anti-pollution plan, triggering restrictions on truck movement, construction activities, and the implementation of work-from-home directives.
The Commission for Air Quality Management has urged the implementation of all emergency measures in the Stage IV of GRAP. The severity of the pollution issue has extended to Noida and Gurugram within the NCR. Concurrently, the mounting pollution crisis has led to a surge in the purchase of air purifiers, in line with doctors’ recommendations advocating the use of masks and air purifiers within households to combat the severely contaminated air. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai, while highlighting the government’s immediate focus on stringent prohibitions against construction activities, vehicle entry, and combustion sources, has emphasized the importance of collaboration with the central government and the participation of neighboring states in enforcing these measures.