NEW DELHI: As the air quality in the National Capital inches towards emergency levels, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) task force recommended shutting down of schools and continued closure of industries, using coal and other such fuel, hot mix plants till November 15.
The AQI was near the 500 mark across Delhi-NCR on Wednesday. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal hinted at the possible extension of the Odd-Even scheme. Air quality in the city dipped essentially on days when the scheme was called off in view of the Sikh festival Guru Purab for two days. “We are thinking about the odd-even scheme. If need be we will extend it but first we have to see,” Kejriwal said.
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“I am worried about the health of the people of Delhi. I am also concerned about the image of the city being projected in the world. When the pollution was at an emergency for two days, German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Delhi, what image will she carry about the country’s national capital,” the Chief Minister said.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court directed the Delhi government to furnish day-to-day AQI data pertaining to the capital till November 14. The Bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Deepak Gupta sought this data from the date on which the Odd-Even Scheme in Delhi was introduced. Similarly, day-to-day AQI data for the period between October 1 and December 31, 2018 has also been sought by the Court.
The direction was issued while hearing a matter concerning air pollution in Delhi NCR and other parts of Northern India. When the Bench took up the matter earlier, it had asked the Delhi government to explain the rationale behind implementing the odd-even scheme. The hearing is now scheduled for November 15, the day the Odd-Even scheme is supposed to end.
“In our view, little constructive efforts have been made by the government and other stakeholders to find solution to the problem,” a bench comprising outgoing Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justice SA Bobde said.
Stubble burning
The road rationing scheme has been in place from November 4 and will be concluded on 15 of this month, if not extended. “The air quality got better by October 10, but after stubble-burning in Punjab and Haryana, the pollution levels increased again.
PIL on Odd-Even
The SC bench issued a notice to Delhi government on a PIL challenging its decision to enforce odd-even scheme to regulate movements of private vehicles. The government told the court that it is exploring technology to tackle air pollution.
Dwarka worst hit
The city’s overall AQI read 456 at 4 pm, up from 425 at 4 pm on Tuesday. Rohini and Dwarka Sector-8 were the most polluted with an AQI of 494, followed by Nehru Nagar (491) and Jahangirpuri (488). Farida-bad (448), Ghaziabad (481), Gurgaon (445).