Delhi air pollution: Parents, activists protest at India Gate, detained for assembling without permission

NEW DELHI, Nov 9: Scores of people, including parents and environmental activists, staged a protest at the India Gate on Sunday against the worsening air quality in the national capital.

The protesters, many of them mothers accompanied by children, said they had gathered to demand urgent government action to ensure clean air.

"We want to meet our elected officials. We had sought an appointment with the chief minister but were refused. So many parents are here because their children are suffering," environmentalist Bhavreen Khandari said.

"Every third child already has damaged lungs; they will live nearly 10 years less than those growing up in cleaner air," she said.

Another protester, Abhishek, said the government had failed to provide even the basic right, to breathe clean air.

"During (former chief minister) Sheila Dikshit's term, Delhi was known as a green capital. Today, it ranks among the most polluted cities in the world. Politicians keep blaming each other instead of taking responsibility," he said.

According to police, several protesters were detained for assembling without permission.

"There was no permission to hold a protest at the India Gate. To maintain law and order and ensure there is no obstruction in security arrangements, some people were detained," a police officer said.

DCP (New Delhi) Devesh Kumar Mahla said the detentions were preventive in nature.

"Only Jantar Mantar is designated as a protest site where permission can be sought by following the due procedure," he added.

Delhi’s air quality nears ‘severe’ level, pollution crosses 400-mark in 15 stations

NEW DELHI, Nov 8: Delhi's air quality worsened on Saturday as pollution levels exceeded the 400-mark in many areas, making the national capital one of the most polluted cities in the country.

The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI), reported at 4 pm every day, stood at 361 on Saturday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). It worsened further to 372 at 6pm.

According to the CPCB's Sameer app, which monitors real-time data from the city's 39 monitoring stations, at least 15 out of the 39 stations in Delhi reported an AQI at or above the 400-mark at 6pm.

These include Alipur (417), ITO (408), Punjabi Bagh (404), Nehru Nagar (407), Patparganj (403), Ashok Vihar (402), Sonia Vihar (401), Jahangirpuri (409), Rohini (408), Vivek Vihar (415), Narela (412), Wazirpur (424), Bawana (424), Chandni Chowk (400) and Burari Crossing (420).

In the NCR region, Noida recorded an AQI of 354, Greater Noida 336, and Ghaziabad 339, all of which fell into the 'very poor' category, as per CPCB data.

The AQI in the national capital on Saturday morning was in the ‘very poor’ category, with Delhi's overall air quality index reading at 355 at 8am.

On Friday, Delhi had recorded an AQI of 322, ranking first among the most polluted cities in the country. PM2.5 and PM10 continue to be the key pollutants on Saturday.

The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi has predicted that the city's air quality will remain in the 'very poor' category over the next few days.

An AQI of 0-50 is considered ‘good’, 51-100 is considered ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 is considered ‘moderate’, 201-300 is considered ‘poor’, 301-400 is considered ‘very poor’, and 401-500 is considered ‘severe’, as per the CPCB classification.

Enhanced Anti-Pollution Curbs Under GRAP-2 Invoked In Delhi Ahead Of Diwali

NEW DELHI, Oct 19: Anti-pollution curbs under GRAP-2 have been invoked for Delhi and surrounding areas as the Air Quality Index has plunged ahead of Diwali. Curbs under GRAP-1 had been enforced for the first time this season on October 14.

In an order on Sunday, the Commission for Air Quality Management, which is the Centre's anti-pollution panel, said the Air Quality Index (AQI) has dipped and is expected to worsen.

"The AQI of Delhi has shown an increasing trend since morning and has been recorded as 296 at 4:00 PM and 302 at 7:00 PM. The forecast by IMD/IITM also predicts further deterioration of AQI in the coming days," it noted.

Under GRAP-2, which is the second stage of the Graded Response Action Plan, there will be restrictions on the use of coal and firewood as well as diesel generator sets in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).

Sweeping and water sprinkling will be done every day on some roads to control dust pollution, and attempts will be made to ease congestion.

These will be in addition to measures under GRAP-1, which include a ban on labour-intensive construction activities without dust mitigation, mandatory water sprinkling at all project sites, heightened inspections of polluting industries and enhanced CNG compliance for public transport.

Citizens have also been advised to take steps like using public transport.

Experts warned that the AQI is likely to worsen after Diwali, with the bursting of firecrackers adding to the pollution and climatic conditions not being favourable for the dispersal of the pollutants.

AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'. Delhi-NCR witnessed over 50 'severe' days last year.