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Delhi Air Pollution: SC directs Centre & Delhi Police to ensure setting up of check posts at all 113 entry points

THE TIMES OF INDIA | Nov 23, 2024, 06:58:01 IST

Delhi Air Pollution: SC directs Centre & Delhi Police to ensure setting up of check posts at all 113 entry points

Delhi's air quality improved from "severe" to "very poor" on Thursday, offering slight relief after five days of extreme pollution. As winter tightens its grip, the city recorded its coldest morning of the season. To combat pollution, central government offices in Delhi-NCR have been urged to adopt staggered timings and promote car-pooling and public transport use to reduce vehicular emissions. Stay with TOI for more updates:

15:51 (IST) Nov 22

Air pollution in North India a 'national emergency', MPs must discuss ways to end crisis: Rahul Gandhi

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. In his post along with the video, the Congress leader said air pollution in North India is a national emergency -- a public health crisis that is stealing our children's future and suffocating the elderly, and an environmental and economic disaster that is ruining countless lives.

14:53 (IST) Nov 22

Air pollution matter: It is very difficult for us to assume entry of trucks in Delhi have been stopped, says SC

14:08 (IST) Nov 22

Air pollution: SC questions Delhi govt over trucks entering national capital

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. The counsel appearing for the Delhi government informed the bench there were a total of 113 entry points, including 13 for trucks. The apex court is seized of the matter related to air pollution in the Delhi-National Capital Region and the hearing is currently underway. On November 18, the apex court directed all Delhi-NCR states to immediately set up teams to strictly enforce anti-pollution GRAP 4 restrictions, making it clear that the curbs would continue till further orders.

13:52 (IST) Nov 22

Delhi Pollution: Stubble burning continues in Punjab amid poor air quality in city

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. 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. Data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) shows that the total number of farm fires in the state has reached 9,655 this year.

12:44 (IST) Nov 22

Watch: A layer of haze covers the Mayur Vihar area.

— ANI (@ANI)

11:33 (IST) Nov 22

Delhi pollution: Air quality remains in 'very poor' category; AQI stands at 373

Delhi's air quality remains in the "very poor" category as Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported at 7 am on Friday that Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 373. Data from the CPCB also shows AQI levels in different areas: Chandni Chowk recorded 359, IGI Airport (T3) 357, ITO 344, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium 342, RK Puram 372, Okhla Phase 2 374, Patparganj 379, Sonia Vihar 400, and Aya Nagar 359.

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10:47 (IST) Nov 22

Doesn't the central government bear the responsibility to address the alarming pollution levels in Delhi? The Environment Minister, too, should take some cognisance of this issue instead of being busy with Maharashtra elections. Somewhere, we all have fallen short of our responsibilities. It is unfortunate that we have not yet been able to find a solution.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi

09:57 (IST) Nov 22

Delhi Pollution: Watch visuals from Akshardham

— ANI (@ANI)

09:39 (IST) Nov 22

Gurgaon Pollution: Surge in respiratory cases as smog tightens its grip

Low-grade fever to shortness of breath, chronic fatigue to palpitation — doctors in Gurgaon are increasingly getting complaints of acute respiratory illness from patients as the region has been grappling with air pollution and the onset of winter. Not just the patients with comorbidities but also those with no prior health issues are presenting with symptoms such as low-grade fever, shortness of breath, fatigue, palpitations, chest pain, stomach pain, dizziness, and loose motions unrelated to digestion. Health department data reveals a concerning trend. Between Nov 1 and 11, as many as 4,652 emergency cases of breathing issues were recorded in Gurgaon, of which 244 were acute respiratory illnesses. Among these, 192 patients required nebulisation. In Oct, the city saw 16,016 emergency cases, with 636 related to acute respiratory illnesses. Of these, 488 patients required nebulisation, 353 needed hospital admission, 27 required non-invasive ventilation, and nine were put on invasive ventilation.

08:58 (IST) Nov 22

Watch: 'Number of people coming for morning walks has reduced'

— ANI (@ANI)

08:31 (IST) Nov 22

Delhi Pollution: AQI remains in the 'poor' category across several parts of Delhi. Visuals from ITO

08:20 (IST) Nov 22

Delhi Pollution: A layer of dense smog covers city as the air quality continues to deteriorate.

— ANI (@ANI)

08:19 (IST) Nov 22

AQI improves to 'poor' after 8 days in Noida, Ghaziabad

The region witnessed an improvement in air quality on Thursday, as wind speeds increased and AQI dropped to the ‘poor' category in both Noida and Ghaziabad. Noida recorded an AQI of 253, a notable drop from Wednesday's 304 (very poor). Greater Noida recorded an even larger drop, recording an AQI of 212, against 304 the day before. In neighbouring Ghaziabad, AQI stood at 291, down from 328 the day before.

08:17 (IST) Nov 22

Delhi Pollution: After five-day ‘severe’ spell, Delhi’s air quality improves to ‘very poor’

The city's air quality turned very poor on Thursday. Despite being toxic, it was still seen as an improvement since the city was suffering under severe AQI for the past five days. As the fog moved with shallow haze and a thin smog layer with winds up to 6-8 kmph, the city's air quality began to show some improvement since late Wednesday evening. The AQI was 376 at 11 am, which, despite light winds, managed to reach 372 by 3 pm. The air quality in some areas, however, remained within severe levels. GRAP-IV measures, meant for severe-plus AQI, continued to be in place. The average AQI on Thursday was 371 against 418 a day earlier, which despite being a marginal improvement, was worse in the region, as Greater Noida saw an AQI of 212, Noida 253, Gurgaon 298, Faridabad 320 and Ghaziabad 291.

08:15 (IST) Nov 22

Delhi Pollution: City records season’s lowest minimum temperature at 10.2 degrees Celsius

08:13 (IST) Nov 22

Delhi Pollution: Minimum dips to season’s low of 10.2°C, it’s as low as 8.1°C at Ridge

Winter has settled in. The city has recorded the coldest morning of the season on Thursday. The minimum temperature dipped to 10.2 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal, at Safdarjung, which is the city’s base station. As north-westerly winds, which bring cold air, are prevailing in the region, the minimum is likely to remain around 10 degrees on Friday. Some stations saw a lower minimum temperature than Safdarjung. The North Delhi Ridge was the coldest with a minimum temperature dropping to 8.1 degrees Celsius, five notches below normal. It was followed by Lodhi Road, where the minimum settled at 9.2 degrees Celsius, two degrees below normal. India Meteorological Department’s data shows that since Monday, when the minimum temperature was recorded at 16.2 degrees Celsius, the mercury dipped by six degrees. Apart from north-westerly winds, the minimum temperature is witnessing a dip due to radiational cooling.

Delhi's air quality turned very poor on Thursday. Despite being toxic, it was still seen as an improvement since the city was suffering under severe AQI for the past five days. As the fog moved with shallow haze and a thin smog layer with winds up to 6-8 kmph, the city's air quality began to show some improvement since late Wednesday evening.

Winter has settled in. Delhi has recorded the coldest morning of the season on Thursday. The minimum temperature dipped to 10.2 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal, at Safdarjung, which is the city’s base station. As north-westerly winds, which bring cold air, are prevailing in the region, the minimum is likely to remain around 10 degrees on Friday. Some stations saw a lower minimum temperature than Safdarjung. The North Delhi Ridge was the coldest with a minimum temperature dropping to 8.1 degrees Celsius, five notches below normal.

As Delhi-NCR grapples with extremely severe air pollution levels, central govt offices in the region have been advised to follow staggered timings and encourage their officers and staff to practice car-pooling or use public transport to minimise vehicular pollution. The steps are part of actions being taken under Stage-IV (severe+ air quality) of the revised graded response action plan (GRAP) for Delhi-NCR.

A study by Climate Trends pointed out that while there is a slight improvement in the air situation in Delhi-NCR, the pollution level may stagnate at the 'very poor' level. The report states that while there are several sources of pollution, meteorological factors play a vital role in the air quality. While the meteorological conditions, including good wind speed and easterly wind direction, favoured Delhi earlier this season, they are now responsible for the high AQI readings.

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