Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: Artificial rain to save Delhi from poor AQI; early winter break for schools

The Delhi government\’s transport department has been directed to ban app-based taxis in accordance with the Supreme Court\’s orders, said Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday. 

Officials, also pointed out that only a detailed order will make it clear if the ban will come into effect from this week or be effective during the implementation of the odd-even car rationing scheme.

Punjab, on Wednesday, reported 2,000 farm fires. Birthplace of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann recorded the maximum number of stubble burning incidents in the state on Wednesday.

Many parts in Haryana saw air quality indices in the \’severe\’ and \’very poor\’ categories.

The total number of farm fires jumped to 22,981 in Punjab with 2,003 fresh such cases being reported on Wednesday, according to Ludhiana-based Punjab Remote Sensing Centre data.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai, held a meetng with the IIT Kanpur team exploring the opportunity of cloud seeding to cause artificial rain.

\”This proposal was first presented by IIT Kanpur in that meeting…In today\’s meeting, it was decided that tomorrow they will send a detailed proposal to the Government. If it is cloudy on 20-21 November and all permissions are obtained the pilot can be executed that day,\” he said.

Delhi\’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI), on Wednesday, was recorded as 426 at 4 pm on Wednesday. Its AQI worsened from 395 on Tuesday.

Not just Delhi, several cities across the Indo-Gangetic plains reported dangerous air quality. AQI of neigbouring places stood at Ghaziabad (384), Gurugram (385), Noida (405), Greater Noida (478) and Faridabad (425).

Amid rising air pollution, Delhi government will attempt inducing artificial rain to curb air pollution. Delhi government has also submitted the proposal to Supreme Court, said Environment Minister Gopal Rai.

Delhi\’s Air Quality Index reached to 289 on Wednesday evening, according to the data provided by the air quality tracker AQI.

The United Nations, on Wednesday, warned that its plans to expand oil, gas and coal production by major fossil fuel countries would push the world far beyond the Paris deal\’s 1.5C global warming limit.

The future of fossil fuels will be a key flashpoint when world leaders meet at the COP28 climate conference later this month, tasked with salvaging the world\’s agreed temperature thresholds.

The Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi Wednesday banned the entry of app-based taxis into the national capital to curb air pollution, reported PTI. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the entry of app-based taxis into the national capital has been banned and only cabs bearing registration numbers of Delhi will be allowed to ply in the city. (Read more)

After a massive row around the defunct smog tower located at Connaught Place in Delhi, it has finally become operational on Wednesday. The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, had directed the government to repair the smog tower.

The Delhi-NCR region remains in the midst of a ‘pollution crisis’ with the Air Quality Index hovering in the ‘severe’ category. The situation worsened on Wednesday with smoke from post-harvest paddy straw burning in neighbouring states accounting for one-third of the air pollution in the national capital. Against this backdrop businessman Anand Mahindra has stressed the importance of ‘regenerative agriculture’. (Read full story)

Delhi government will share the “complete information\” related to the odd-even vehicle rationing scheme with the Supreme Court during the next hearing, the national capital\’s environment minister Gopal Rai said on November 8. (Read full story here)

Air Pollution case: Amid rising pollution levels in Delhi-NCR, the Supreme Court on 7 November called for substituting paddy cultivation with other crops in an attempt to reduce stubble burning, pointing out that paddy was not a native of the state. (Read more)

The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday accused Haryana government as the “biggest culprit\” behind pollution in Delhi. Notably, a day ago, the Supreme Court observed that there cannot be a “political battle\” over the issue all the time.

Former vice president, M Venkaiah Naidu, on Wednesday, said that the air pollution problem should be taken seriously without any politicking, reported PTI.

In its report filed to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Committee of Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and adjoining Areas (CAQM), said that the state government of Punjab and various administrative agencies need to strictly and effectively implement the various components of the action plan to bring down stubble burning cases.

The Delhi High Court, on Wednesday, refused to hear a petition seeking permission to celebrate Chhath Puja at the banks of the Yamuna river. Justice Subramonium Prasad said the ban is to prevent pollution in Yamuna. 

Petitioners Chhath Pooja Sangharsh Samiti and Purwanchal Jagriti Manch sought a direction for setting aside a Delhi Disaster Management Authority\’s (DDMA) October 29, 2021 order by which the authorities banned celebration of Chhath Puja at the banks of the Yamuna.

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: As we usher in the festive season with joy and enthusiasm, there\’s another element making a grand entrance as well—severe air pollution. While the festivities bring vibrant lights, cultural celebrations, and a sense of togetherness, they also bring a surge in traffic, logistics movement, and consequently, a dramatic spike in pollution levels. The air we breathe, essential for life itself, is turning increasingly toxic, raising alarms about our well-being. Read more here

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: Odd-even scheme to be implemented in national capital after SC reviews its effectiveness, says Gopal Rai

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai says, \”I have been continuously appealing to the Center that there should be a joint work. In Delhi, we are continuously implementing the rules of GRAP. But the way our neighbouring governments are sitting silently, I think that after the order of the Supreme Court, meetings will now be held and rules will be implemented… I have been continuously demanding that firecrackers be banned in the states around us. BJP wants to control pollution only by making statements. I think the Supreme Court order regarding the ban on firecrackers will have an impact…\”

While speaking to news agency ANI, AAP leader Durgesh Pathak said, \”Yesterday, the Supreme Court gave a very clear direction… It has given the Environment Secretary the duty to intervene on a day-to-day basis and resolve it. Pollution in Delhi is not because of one reason, it\’s because of stubble burning in five states… The central government is not doing anything… They are just doing rallies in the elections…\”

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: The District Administration in Gurugram is taking proactive steps to combat pollution by using tankers and fire tenders to sprinkle water on trees and roads.

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: Delhi government announces early winter break in schools from 9th to 18th November amid severe air pollution in the national capital.

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: Polluted air is not restricted by borders, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Wednesday and claimed that people in his state as well as in Delhi were suffering with Punjab reporting several cases of crop-residue burning.

He, however, stressed there should not be politics over the issue and that it is the collective responsibility of everyone to keep the environment clean.

The air quality in Delhi and its adjoining areas in the National Capital Region (NCR) worsened on Wednesday morning, with smoke from post-harvest paddy straw burning in neighbouring states accounting for one-third of the air pollution in the national capital.

\”There should be no politics. Unfortunately, a few people are doing politics over it, but they are not getting any benefit…,\” the chief minister said when asked by reporters in Pinjore on a Supreme Court bench on Tuesday taking a stern view of states trying to shift the blame on one another, and observing there cannot be a \”political battle\” all the time.

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai along with Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot and Revenue Minister Atishi chair a meeting of all concerned departments to ensure compliance with the instructions given by the Supreme Court yesterday regarding pollution. The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned the effectiveness of the Delhi government scheme, aimed at curbing vehicular pollution, and referred to it as “all optics.\” The apex court also directed the states of Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to stop stubble burning “forthwith\”.

Air quality in Mumbai continued to remain in the \’Moderate\’ category on Wednesday. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 149 at noon according to data provided by SAFAR. Many areas in the city dipped to \’poor\’ and \’very poor\’ air quality.

The state pollution control meter, installed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) reflected the air quality of Mumbai as \’very poor\’ at 7 am. A health alert was also issued at the CST area due to the deteriorating air quality. The air quality index varied in different areas of Mumbai. In the Bandra Kurla Complex, the air quality was recorded in a \’moderate\’ category, with an AQI of 200 at 9 am. Meanwhile, Colaba and Borivali East reported \’moderate\’ air quality with an AQI of 151 and 141, respectively.

BKC is which is one of the important commercial areas of Mumbai. Although the average AQI of the city was recorded to be 145 (moderate), as per the data released by SAFAR. Earlier on Monday, Bombay High Court passed interim directions for the Maharashtra government and municipal authorities in Mumbai and surrounding areas to mitigate the issue of worsening air pollution.

As per SAFAR data AQI in these areas recorded ‘severe’ category air
AQI in Dhirpur: 438

AQI in Delhi University: 435

AQI in Delhi airport: 444

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: The minimum temperature in the city settled at 15.1 degrees Celsius, a notch above normal, on Wednesday morning. The relative humidity stood at 91 per cent at 8:30 am, according to data shared by the India Meteorological Department. On Tuesday, the city had registered a low of 14.9 degrees Celsius, a notch above normal, and a high of 31.7 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal.

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: On the Supreme Court\’s directions on pollution, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai says, \”…All the parties be it BJP, Congress or AAP everyone will have to try (to curb) it together. It is sad that BJP thinks that it is important to release a statement…\”

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: On 7 November, the Supreme Court also directed the Punjab government to put an end to the practice of stubble burning to address the issue of air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region. The court noted that constant political disputes should not hinder necessary actions to combat the problem. The apex court also directed the states of Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to stop stubble burning “forthwith\”

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: Team of technical and operational staff reaches \’Smog Tower\’ after SC orders repair

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: Rising concerns on air quality index, amidst high pollution levels have kept the National Capital Region of Delhi in the spotlight. As government is focusing on various measures to reduce pollution, the citizens\’ focus will also be towards insulating themselves from the impact of high pollution. Read more here

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has called a meeting of all concerned departments today to ensure compliance with the instructions given by the Supreme Court yesterday regarding pollution. Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, Revenue Minister Atishi will also attend this meeting: Office of Environment Minister

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: Situation in Anand Vihar worsens as AQI touches 999, as per aqicn.org.

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: A thick toxic haze or \’smog\’ continued to hang heavy over the national capital as the air quality remained in the \’severe\’ category on Wednesday, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) informed.

According to the data shared by the CPCB, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Anand Vihar was recorded at 452, while it was at 433, 460, 382, and 413 at RK Puram, Punjabi Bagh, Sri Aurobindo Marg and Shadipur, all in the \’severe\’ category.

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: As per SAFAR data at 8: 30 am, the overall air quality in Delhi stood at 395. 

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: On Delhi pollution, a local resident Satish Mishra said, \”…Governments are just blaming each other. If it is not controlled it can be severe than Covid. Everyone in Delhi is wearing a mask…\”

After enduring days of dense smog, Delhi may finally be on the cusp of much-needed relief from its hazardous air conditions which were aggravated by the stubble burning in the neighbouring states. The ‘hazardous’ air situation in the national capital also forced the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to invoke Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the entire National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect to prevent further deterioration of air quality. However, the movement of western disturbances might improve the air quality in the coming days, weather officials said on Tuesday. Read more here

As per CPCB data, air quality in the national capital continued to remain in the \’severe\’ category. On Delhi pollution, a local Gulab Singh Shukla said, \”There is a lot of pollution and the government should do something about this…The public is facing a lot of problems due to this…\”

Mumbai\’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) witnessed a drop in air quality with AQI recorded at 301 in ‘very poor’ category.

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: A cyclist from Delhi, Jatin, told ANI, \”The pollution has increased. We are having difficulty in breathing. AQI has increased. Govt should take steps to curb the pollution…\”

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: The Supreme Court termed the Delhi government\’s Odd-Even scheme to tackle air pollution “mere optics\” on Tuesday. Following the statement, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the government will make a detailed plan related to the Odd-Even scheme after studying the Supreme Court\’s order. “…after studying the Supreme Court\’s order, we will make detailed plans (regarding the Odd-Even scheme), and then we will inform you all. We will incorporate the orders of the Supreme Court in the detailed planning,\” he said on Tuesday. Read more here

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: On Delhi pollution, a local while speaking to news agency ANI said, \”Smog is causing a lot of problems…There is difficulty in breathing and the government should do something…\”

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: As the capital city grapples with high levels of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 pollution, another pollutant, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), is on the rise in Delhi, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). NO2, primarily stemming from vehicle emissions, indicates a persistent air quality issue in Delhi attributed to vehicular pollution. The city\’s economic survey for 2022-23 reported a staggering 7,917,898 registered vehicles in Delhi, with traffic extending from Gurugram, Faridabad in Haryana, and Noida and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, the Hindustan Times reported. Read more here

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: The \’odd-even\’ car rationing scheme will be implemented from November 13, the Delhi government said on Tuesday, hours after Raj Niwas officials alleged that the GRAP stage-IV implementation file sent to the lieutenant governor stated that no decision had been taken on the scheme.

Responding to a Raj Niwas official\’s accusation that the city government was misleading the courts and people over the vehicle rationing system, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the decision to implement the \’odd-even\’ scheme was taken on November 6 but the file the official was talking about was actually sent for LG VK Saxena\’s approval on November 4.

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: Noting that air pollution impacts the health of everyone, especially children, Uttar Pradesh minister Arun Saxena on Tuesday urged people to not burn firecrackers on Diwali \”as far as possible\”.

Saxena, the Minister of State for Environment and Forest (independent charge), said the Yogi Adityanath government is committed to mitigating pollution and is taking all appropriate measures for it.

But Uttar Pradesh is bearing the brunt of stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana in the form of air pollution in the state, he said.

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: Amid high pollution levels in the national capital, Delhi Traffic Police has issued over 4,700 challans to vehicle owners driving without a pollution under control (PUC) certificate in the last four days, officials said on Tuesday.

Stage IV of the Centre\’s pollution control plan called the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) came into force in Delhi on Sunday as the city\’s air quality plummeted to the \’severe plus\’ category. Under the final Stage IV of the plan, all kinds of construction work and the entry of polluting trucks into the city have been banned.

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: Delhi air quality continues to remain in the \’severe\’ category as per the Central Pollution Control Board. AQI in Punjabi Bagh at 460 and in ITO at 413.

Delhi, NCR Air Pollution LIVE Updates: As per SAFAR, overall AQI stands at 356.

AQI in Noida: 379

AQI in Gurugam: 362

AQI in Lodhi road: 346

AQI in Mathura road: 352

AQI in Airport (T3): 421

AQI in Delhi University: 388

AQI in Pusa: 324

As per CPCB data, 

AQI in Anand Vihar: 452

AQI in Jahangirpuri: 447

AQI in Nehru Nagar: 443

AQI in RK Puram: 434

AQI in Rohini: 451