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As concerns escalate over the deteriorating air quality in the Delhi-NCR region, the Central government has directed the Delhi administration to implement emergency measures to address the issue. These measures include a mandate for 50 percent of employees in both government and private offices to work from home, as well as strict restrictions on vehicular pollution.
The move represents the activation of Stage IV, the final phase of the Center’s air pollution control strategy, initiated when the Air Quality Index (AQI) nears or surpasses the 450 threshold in the capital city. This phase requires authorities to take immediate and stringent actions to combat air pollution.
To combat vehicular emissions, the entry of polluting trucks and commercial four-wheelers into Delhi has been strictly prohibited. Only vehicles using compressed natural gas (CNG), electricity, or those adhering to the Bharat Stage VI (BS VI) emission standards from other states are permitted entry into Delhi.
Additionally, the pollution control body has ordered a halt to non-essential construction activities and banned certain categories of polluting vehicles. The Delhi government has taken further steps to protect the health of young children by temporarily closing all primary schools for a period of two days.
The deteriorating air quality can be attributed to unfavorable meteorological conditions and a surge in stubble-burning incidents in neighboring states. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the region worsened from 415 on Saturday afternoon to 463 on Sunday afternoon.
These measures reflect the government’s commitment to tackling the critical issue of air pollution in the national capital and surrounding areas, emphasizing the urgency of the situation and the need for collective action to protect public health.
