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According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s AQI was 342 on Wednesday, October 22, while several parts of the city reached “severe” levels during the night, India Today reported.
According to News18, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has consequently implemented Phase 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the Delhi-NCR region.
prank step 2 in effect
Phase 2 of GRAP mandates intensified dust control, checks on vehicle emissions, restrictions on movement of highly polluting vehicles and ban on open burning of waste and biomass.
Residents have also been urged to ensure that their vehicles have a valid pollution under control (PUC) certificate.
According to News18, these measures have been taken amid Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) forecasts that the AQI will remain above 300 (very poor) in the next few days due to low wind speed and adverse meteorological conditions.
Violation of firecracker ban increases toxic load
Despite Supreme Court restrictions limiting the use of green crackers between specific hours, violations were seen across the capital.
People continued bursting crackers much after the stipulated time, leading to a sharp increase in particulate pollution.
A decline was seen in farm fires
Data from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, showed that stubble burning contributed barely 0.8-1% to Delhi’s PM2.5 levels between October 20 and 21.
According to the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Punjab has seen a significant decline in farm fire incidents from 1,510 cases in 2024 to just 415 this year, News18 reported.
Experts stressed that while incidents of farm fires have reduced, Delhi’s pollution is increasing from local sources such as vehicle emissions, industrial activities, construction dust and open burning of garbage.
As winters are approaching, the national capital is expected to get even colder as smog blankets the entire city.