New Delhi. Air pollution in Delhi-NCR has reached very dangerous levels. In many areas the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed 500 for the first time. By Sunday evening, AQI had reached ‘hazardous’ (severe) category in most areas. Keeping this in view, GRAP-4 has been implemented in Delhi. Its restrictions have come into effect from Monday i.e. today at 8 am.
Schools up to 9 in Delhi have been closed till further orders. Except 10th and 12th, all other classes have been started online. Meteorologists say that one should go out of the house only when necessary. According to the report, the average AQI of the national capital Delhi in the last 24 hours at 9 pm on Sunday night was 548. Delhi’s AQI level (pollution) was 477 at 8 am on Sunday morning, which increased to 548 at 8 pm.
In Delhi, breathing air now means smoking 14.7 cigarettes per day. According to the government website ‘Safar’, the average AQI of Delhi was 457 around 9.30 pm. The level was 490 on Mathura Road, 477 in ITO, 487 in Mundka, 441 in Okhla, 483 in Wazirpur and 475 in Anand Vihar. Apart from Delhi, AQI of other cities of the country has also crossed 500.
In Haryana, AQI was 545 in Bhiwani, 446 in Rohtak, 502 in Sirsa, 444 in Gurgaon, 394 in Noida, 409 in Ghaziabad, 409 in Hisar, 378 in Sonipat and 432 in Faridabad. It is known that pollution has been increasing in Delhi since October. Its main reasons are cold, slow flow of air, firecrackers, stubble burning and pollution caused by vehicles. In view of the increasing pollution, the Air Quality Management Commission had implemented the third phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-3) on Friday, while it has been decided to implement GRAP-4 from Monday. .
