Around 1,800 more traffic personnel will be deployed at 97 points, and the inspections at construction-demolition sites will be intensified, the minister noted. Moreover, Delhi Metro will be making 40 additional train trips daily, and the frequency of DTC buses will be increased to encourage public transport.
“We have formed a coordination committee that will visit hotspots everyday, under supervision of DC, and monitor how action plans are being followed in those areas… Although, electricity is being supplied 24 hours. However, the department has been directed to monitor and ensure that there are no or less power cuts,” says the Delhi minister said at a press conference as GRAP II was implemented in Delhi amid rising pollution.
The national capital on Tuesday continued to choke as Delhi’s air quality dropped to the ‘very poor’ category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 385 recorded around 8:00 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
A thick layer of fog was seen in areas like Anand Vihar, Kalkaji, Nehru Place, and Akshardham Temple, as the city’s air quality continued to deteriorate.
Earlier on Monday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) ordered the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-II) in Delhi-NCR after the overall AQI fell into the ‘very poor’ category. Delhi recorded a daily average AQI of 310, as per the CPCB’s daily AQI Bulletin.”As per the dynamic model and forecasts for weather/meteorological conditions and air quality provided by IMD/IITM, there is a likelihood of the daily average AQI of Delhi remaining in the ‘very poor’ category (AQI 301-400) in the coming days due to unfavourable meteorological and climatic conditions,” according to a Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change release.The Sub-Committee of the CAQM decided that all actions under Stage II of the GRAP for ‘very poor’ air quality be implemented by concerned agencies in the NCR. This is to prevent further deterioration of air quality.
