Delhi: Air quality continues to remain 'hazardous'; situation to become normal in 1-2 days, says Environment Minister

Air quality in Delhi continues to remain extremely grim for the fourth day in a row. News agency ANI reported that the Air Quality Index (AQI) at several parts of the capital remains hazardous. However Environment Ministry is hoping that the situation will improve in the next few days. 

Delhi: Air Quality Index at RK Puram, Mandir Marg and Anand Vihar remain in 'Hazardous' category. (Source: AQICN) pic.twitter.com/Lqgj8xkIki

— ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2018

PM10 (particles with the diameter less than 10mm) level was over 700 in most of the areas in Delhi-NCR areas, leading to hazy conditions and limiting visibility. Situation was particularly bad in RK Puram and Anand Vihar. 

The situation is so dire that Delhi LG on Thursday ordered to halt construction work till Sunday. For the last few days, a thick blanket of haze has been enveloping Delhi and parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) for the last few days. Referring to India Meteorological Department data, the environment ministry also said that the dusty condition will remain for the next two days.

Speaking to ANI, Environment Minister Harsh Varshan said on Friday, " There was a dust storm from Rajasthan which resulted in deterioration of air quality&high levels of PM 10.We issued an alert,convened a meeting of task force&gave advisory to state gvt.Situation should be normal in 1-2 days". On Thursday, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said, in the long run, a solution to Delhi pollution will be found out. He expressed hope that situation will be significantly better within next two years. 

Yesterday, 24-hour average concentration (rolling) of PM10 was 1,400 microgrammes per cubic metre (ug/m3), more than three times above the severe level, said Gufran Beig, a scientist at the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research institute (SAFAR). The severe level begins at 430 ug/m3.

Meanwhile the environment ministry said that the Task Force under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) met in Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and recommended that construction activity-related enforcement measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) be brought into operation immediately.

"In view of the seriousness of the situation, Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan has directed concerned agencies to be on maximum alert and to ensure all necessary measures to contain sources of dust and to check garbage burning. He also appealed to the people to avoid unnecessary exposure, given the prevailing situation," an official statement said.

Baijal ordered stoppage of all civil construction activities across Delhi till Sunday as part of emergency measures that also include intensifying mechanical road sweeping. According to the L-G office, civic bodies, PWD and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) have been directed to impose penalties on all road construction agencies for violating laid down norms for dust control measures. He said emergency measures like stoppage of all civil construction activities till 17th June have been taken and further monitoring would be done by agencies like NHAI, DMRC, MCDs, PWD and NBCC to ensure compliance.

With PTI inputs