Delhi air ‘severe plus’: More curbs kick in, schools go online barring Classes 10, 12

Under the eight-point GRAP-4, introduction of diesel-run mean and dense vehicles registered successful Delhi (BS-IV oregon below), but those carrying indispensable goods, is banned. However, vehicles carrying indispensable commodities oregon providing exigency services volition beryllium allowed.

Construction and demolition work, including of roads, highways and flyovers, has been halted with definite exceptions. Works related to Railways, metro obstruction services, airports, hospitals, defence, etc. are permitted.

The GRAP-4 curbs volition beryllium successful summation to the restrictions already successful spot nether its erstwhile stages arsenic the portion continues to beryllium engulfed by smog. These see a prohibition connected highly dust-generating operation and demolition enactment nether GRAP-III.

After respective authorities governments contented orders, vehicles whitethorn besides tally connected an odd-even basis, colleges whitethorn beryllium unopen and non-emergency commercialized activities stopped. Government and backstage offices tin besides tally astatine partial capacity, and work-from-home whitethorn beryllium permitted.

Sunday, the National Capital was the second-most polluted metropolis successful the country, with the day’s mean Air Quality Index (AQI) astatine 441, which further roseate to 457 by 7 pm.

The CAQM attributed the abrupt spike successful contamination levels to “continuing unfavourable meteorological conditions, with debased upwind speed”.

“… the mean AQI for Delhi is expected to stay successful this adverse scope owing to dense fog, adaptable winds, highly unfavourable meteorological and climatic conditions. Forecasts from the IMD/IITM besides bespeak a likelihood of the AQI of Delhi to peculiarly stay successful the higher extremity of ‘Severe’ oregon ‘Severe+’ class successful the coming days, owing to unfavourable climatic conditions,” it said.