Delhi air pollution: Air quality improves slightly in city

The air quality in the national capital improved from the severe to the very poor category on Sunday morningAt 8 am the Air Quality Index AQI was recorded at 357 falling under the very poor category compared to the 24hour average AQI of 412 at 4 pm on Saturday according to the Central Pollution Control BoardHowever Anand Vihar remained in the severe category with an AQI of 404Delhis air quality has remained hazardous for nearly a month On October 30 it first slipped into the very poor category and stayed there for 15 days It worsened further last Sunday as Delhi recorded severe air quality and stayed so on Monday and TuesdayBy Wednesday the air quality was in the severe plus category Favorable wind conditions brought slight relief on Thursday but the air quality began deteriorating again nearing the severe category on Friday Delhis air quality slipped back to the severe category on SaturdayThe severe category poses serious health risks especially due to fine particulate matter PM25 which can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream causing longterm health issuesThe weather office said the minimum temperature was recorded at 12 degrees Celsius It has forecast shallow fog during the morning or night hours with the maximum temperature expected to hover around 28 degrees CelsiusThe humidity level at 830 am stood at a high 75 percentEarlier this week the Supreme Court directed the Delhi government and Police to immediately set up checkpoints on all 113 entry points to Delhi to check the entry of trucks in the national capital It appointed 13 members of the Bar as court commissioners to visit the entry points to Delhi and verify whether entry of trucks is being stoppedThe apex court expressed dissatisfaction with the compliance of GRAP IV measures saying despite orders passed by the apex court and CAQM there is a failure on the part of the Delhi government and Police to comply with clauses under GRAP stage IVSo far as complaince is concerned we are not satisfied Government has not stated clearly as to at how many entry points there are officers present to comply with measures of GRAP IV it saidWe direct the Delhi Government and Delhi Police to ensure that checkposts are immediately set up at all 113 entry points the bench orderedAs per the GRAPIV restrictions imposed by the Commission for Air Quality Management CAQM the entry of trucks is prohibited to DelhiNCR to combat air pollutionKeeping in view the rising level of pollution the Commission for Air Quality Management CAQM activated StageIV of the Graded Response Action Plan GRAP imposing restrictions like bans on truck entry and a halt to public construction projectsDelhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has urged Chief Secretary Dharmendra for strict enforcement of the Graded Response Action Plan GRAP to address the worsening air quality in the national capital The minister highlighted the need for coordinated efforts in all departments to implement the Winter Action Plan2024 and achieve sustained improvements in air qualityRai directed that all departments should also submit daily reports on actions taken and the progress made in implementing GRAP He stressed the importance of strict enforcement mechanisms to penalize violators of air pollution normsWith inputs from Agencies