Delhi’s air quality worsened on Tuesday and plunged into the ‘severe’ category – even as the state government imposed a temporary ban on plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers – in view of the worsening air quality. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi on Tuesday was recorded at 418. On Monday, the AQI in the national capital stood at 434 at 4 pm – worsening from 371 on Sunday.
According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the air quality is likely to worsen for the next three days due to the surface wind speed and temperature.
“Air quality is likely to deteriorate but be within ‘very poor’ or touch ‘severe’ for the next 3 days due to low temperature (helps accumulation of pollutants) and moderate surface winds (moderate dispersion of pollutants). Morning fog continues to persist due to cold wind flow from the northwest region experiencing cold wave,” SAFAR wrote in its bulletin.
An 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, and 401 and 500 severe.
The Delhi government on Tuesday imposed a temporary ban on plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in the national capital till January 12.
“As per directions as provided under Stage III of the revised GRAP and under Section 115 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, it is hereby ordered that there shall be restrictions to ply BS-III, Petrol and BS-IV, Diesel LMVs (4-wheelers) in NCT of Delhi, with immediate effect, till dated 12.01.2023 or till downward revision in GRAP stage, whichever is earlier (except for vehicles deployed in emergency services, police vehicles & govt. vehicles used for enforcement),” read an order issued by the Delhi government.
According to a senior transport department official, if any BS-III, Petrol, and BS-IV, Diesel LMV (4-wheeler) is found plying on roads, it will be prosecuted under section 194(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 which provides for a fine of ₹20,000, reported news agency ANI.
Meanwhile, the national capital continues to witness a dense fog and cold wave conditions. Delhi’s Safdarjung on Tuesday morning saw a minimum temperature of 3.8 degrees Celsius. According to IMD, the minimum temperature is expected to settle at 4 degrees, while the maximum temperature is expected to be at 19 degree Celsius.
