Delhi continues to choke as air quality remains ‘severe plus.’ It has reached severe levels and raised concern about health risks. GRAP 4 has been implemented in the national capital to combat worsening pollution levels. This decision was taken after Delhi’s daily average AQI rose sharply to 441 by 4 pm on Sunday and further escalated to 457 by 7 pm, which prompted an emergency meeting of the GRAP Sub-Committee. AQI at various areas of Delhi remained severe plus and was recorded crossing even 500 mark on Monday.
#WATCH | People carry on with their daily chores even as a dense layer of smog engulfs Delhi, amid deteriorating air quality. Visuals from Sarita Vihar.
Actions under stage-lV ('Severe+' Air Quality) of revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) have come into effect from today… pic.twitter.com/SPzLSq2W7B---Advertisement---— ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2024
DU, JNU And Schools Go Online
In order to mitigate the deteriorating air quality and safeguard the citizens, schools and colleges in Delhi are shut and have shifted to online mode. Delhi University has decided to conduct classes online till November 23. The regular classes in physical mode will resume from November 25.
A notification from University of Delhi read “The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi & NCR has deteriorated to an alarmingly high index. In the larger interest of students of the Colleges and the Departments of the University of Delhi, it has been decided that the classes shall be conducted in Online Mode till Saturday the 23rd November, 2024.”
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) also decided to conduct classes online until November 22, and cited severe pollution and hazardous AQI levels in Delhi and the NCR.
In Gurugram physical classes up to the 12th standard has been suspended from November 19 to November 23, 2024, or until further notice.
#WATCH | Air pollution | In Delhi, physical classes for all students upto class 9 and class 11 discontinued from today until further orders. Heads of Schools have also been directed to ensure classes in online mode for the students of these classes till further orders. Physical… pic.twitter.com/YQxVwxYoUz
— ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2024
Along with this, the Supreme Court on Monday directed Delhi and all the governments in the National Capital Region (NCR) to strictly implement GRAP stage IV anti-pollution measures as Air Quality Index (AQI) remains in the “severe” category.
Notably, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had imposed the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage 4 in Delhi NCR from Monday.
Expert Warns Of ‘Worst’ Days Ahead
Speaking to ANI on implementation of GRAP IV, environmentalist Vimlendu Kumar Jha on Monday said that these measures “similar to lockdown” were important to be executed in the national capital.
Vimlendu said, “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 called GRAP IV as the last-minute solution to the pollution crisis in the national capital.
He warned that the situation will get worse in the coming days. “The situation is only going to get worse in in coming days. Right now, we saw yesterday the contribution of stubble burning to the ambient air quality of Delhi was around 32 per cent with the temperatures going down, and the wind speed decreasing in the coming week perhaps for the next 6-7 days the situation is going to remain in severe plus category or perhaps cross 500 or 550 in various areas of Delhi NCR,” he said.
Stubble Burning At Peak
Stubble burning is considered as one of the contributing factors to air pollution in Delhi. Every year, Delhi faces impact of stubble burning that is carried in neighbouring states of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh.Punjab recorded its highest single-day count of stubble-burning incidents this season on Monday, with 1,251 farm fires reported.
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.
Officials from the PPCB have emphasised the need for stricter enforcement and greater cooperation from farmers to tackle the issue.
#WATCH | Amritsar, Punjab: An incident of stubble burning seen in Wadala village pic.twitter.com/5haUnM0TXh
— ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2024
Citizens At Risk
Rising air pollution level have increased health risks. Residents complained facing severe problems and urged government to tale effective measures.
Akshay Pathak said, “Morning walk feels good but now the air is polluted. So, we are wearing a mask…There is a burning sensation in the eyes and slight difficulty in breathing…”
Another resident Shekhar said, “AQI in Delhi is touching almost 500 right now…I come here for a morning walk and feel a little burning in my eyes and my throat feels scratchy…If I felt this as a young man, what would be the condition of the senior citizens…”
#WATCH | Shekhar says, "AQI in Delhi is touching almost 500 right now…I come here for a morning walk and feel a little burning in my eyes and my throat feels scratchy…If I felt this as a young man, what would be the condition of the senior citizens…" pic.twitter.com/mrGb5bSLY1
— ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2024
Also Read: IMD Weather Update: Delhi Chokes As AQI Hits Hazardous 500; Heavy Rain Warning For Southern States
