Delhi’s air quality has begun to deteriorate amid withdrawal of monsoon rains with the AQI reading of 151 (moderate) recorded on Wednesday morning.
The extent to which the longer-term road, dust and traffic-management measures are completed before winter will determine how much of the announced framework is operational when pollution levels begin their seasonal rise. The data from the past few days shows a daily rise in pollution levels. With rainfall becoming less frequent and the transition towards the post-monsoon period underway, officials are preparing for the seasonal deterioration in dispersion conditions making the air more polluted. “The objective is to ensure that departments do not wait for pollution levels to deteriorate before starting enforcement. Road infrastructure work is another area where timelines extend into the pollution season. The government’s winter strategy consequently combines enforcement measures such as vehicle restrictions and work-from-home rules with dust suppression through water sprinkling and anti-smog guns.
The city’s AQI, which was 118 on September 19, rose to 160 on September 20, 169 on September 21 and 178 on September 22, according to the 24-hour average at the Delhi Pollution Control Committee’s monitoring system. The Delhi government has already notified a permanent winter pollution framework, under which restrictions will automatically apply from November 1 to February 28. These include restrictions on construction and demolition, 50% attendance in government and private offices, doubled parking charges and a year-round requirement for vehicles to possess a valid PUC certificate before being supplied fuel.
The measures have been given fixed timelines so that preparatory work can begin in advance,” a senior government official said.
