'Conduct special drive to prevent entry of private polluting buses into Delhi'

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai directed the transport department on Friday to conduct a special drive to prevent the entry of private polluting buses into the capital reported news agency PTIThe minister reviewed the implementation of air pollution control measures at the Sarai Kale Interstate Bus Terminal and found buses from other states flouting the ban imposed on BS IV diesel vehicles under the Centres Graded Response Action Plan reported PTIWe have found that private buses from other states have been violating the ban and have directed the transport department to run a special drive to check the entry of such vehicles into Delhi he told reporters reported PTICiting experts views Gopal Rai said that a slight improvement in meteorological conditions might lead to marginal relief but urged agencies to remain alert reported PTIStrict restrictions including a ban on construction work and the entry of polluting trucks into the capital under the final stage Stage IV of the Centres air pollution control plan known as the Graded Response Action Plan GRAP had kicked in on November 5 after the air quality in the capital dropped to severe plus AQI above 450 levels reported PTIThe plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles is banned under the final stage Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan with exemptions granted to those involved in essential services reported PTIMeanwhile Delhis air quality has deteriorated further and now stands closer to the severe plus category a stage which might trigger the implementation of the oddeven car rationing measure in the capitalThe citys air quality index stood at 437 at 7 am worsening from 419 at 4 pm on ThursdayThe capitals 24hour average AQI recorded at 4 pm every day was 401 on Wednesday 397 on Tuesday 358 on Monday 218 on Sunday 220 on Saturday and 279 on FridayThe relatively better air quality last weekend is attributed to rain Air pollution levels surged in the following days due to intense firecracker bursting on Diwali night and a resurgence in stubble burning in the neighbouring statesThese effects were compounded by unfavourable meteorological conditions primarily calm winds and low temperatures hindering the dispersion of pollutants Neighbouring Ghaziabad 374 Gurugram 404 Greater Noida 313 Noida 366 and Faridabad 415 also recorded very poor to severe air qualityAn AQI between zero and 50 is considered good 51 and 100 satisfactory 101 and 200 moderate 201 and 300 poor 301 and 400 very poor 401 and 450 severe and above 450 severe plusEarlier this week Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai had mentioned the possibility of the return of the oddeven car rationing measure if the AQI crosses the 450markThe measure implemented four times since 2016 allows cars to operate on alternate days based on the odd or even last digit of their registration numbers The last enforcement was in 2019The government last week postponed its implementation after a notable improvement in the citys air quality due to rain on FridayRecent findings from a joint project by the Delhi government and IITKanpur found that vehicular emissions accounted for about 38 per cent of the capitals air pollution on Wednesday This reduced to 25 per cent on ThursdayWith inputs from PTI