Odd-even system may be implemented!
The capital city suffocates under incessant pollution levels. The air quality index (AQI) of Delhi reaches 600 plus , reporting the worst category in the city.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai will convene an emergency meeting to address the problem at 12 PM today (Friday, October 4, 2022). Officers of the Environment Department and other related departments will be present in the high-level meeting today.
Amid the worsening Air Quality in the city, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) implemented Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect on Thursday.
The average Air Quality Index of Delhi is 453 today. Noida’s average AQI is around 562 today. Ghaziabad’s AQI reaches 407 and Delhi’s Dheerpur area records AQI of 512. Most of the areas in Delhi-NCR are under the ‘severe’ category.
As per the information, it is predicted that; Odd-even rule, which was first implemented in Delhi by CM Arvind Kejriwal in January 2016 to curb pollution and smog, is expected to be rolled out for the fourth time.
Government offices in Delhi may implement flexible work modes for employees under which 50 per cent of government officers shall be allowed to work from home.
Private offices may be asked to call fewer people in the offices to save people from the hazardous pollution.
Online classes in school and colleges are also expected to be approved in the meeting as experts say that children upto 16 years of age are more vulnerable to air pollution in Delhi.
Knowing what is GRAP ; Stage 4 - ‘Severe+’ Air Quality aims to primarily focus on vehicle restrictions including entry of commercial trucks into Delhi, diesel commercial vehicles for intra-Delhi movements and non-BS 4 passenger vans, light motor vehicles in Delhi.
Various agencies responsible for implementing measures under GRAP and Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of NCR and DPCC have also been advised to ensure strict implementation of actions of Stage 4 under GRAP during this period.
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