CAPITAL GASPS: Entry of trucks banned from November 8 as precaution

Acting on recommendations of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Supreme Court-empowered Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority banned entry of trucks traffic into Delhi from November 8 to November 10. This would exclude trucks carrying essential commodities.

EPCA chairman Bhure Lal issued urgent directions to this effect on Tuesday evening. "You are requested to direct all authorities, particularly the police to coordinate action on this so that trucks are turned around before entry into Delhi. You are also requested to put out information on this at the earlier so that transporters have notice and can plan their travel accordingly," the direction stated.

The directions were issued even as Delhi's air quality improved a day after the city recorded the year's worst air quality. The improvement was largely owing to favourable surface winds and upper winds that helped disperse pollutants closer to the ground and lower incursion of smoke from stubble burning. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city's air quality index (AQI) on Tuesday was 338, much lesser than 426 recorded on Monday. The AQI is representative of Delhi-NCR's air-quality and is based on data of pollutants from 34 monitoring stations.

EPCA noted that the government agency System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research of the Ministry of Earth Sciences and IMD said that period post-Diwali onwards could see a sharp deteriorating in air quality because of low dispersion and winds from northwest and this would bring emissions into Delhi.

Earlier in the day, CPCB's task force on the Graded Response Action Plan reviewed the capital's air quality on Tuesday and stated that between November 8 and November 10, the air quality in Delhi may worsen due to low surface winds and due to northwesterly winds. In light of unfavourable meteorological conditions in the coming days, it had recommended EPCA (Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority) to ban entry of truck traffic into Delhi.

This would be besides the measures already in place such as checks on open burning of garbage, dust generating activities and construction activities and actions taken by traffic police against polluting vehicles. Officials said that the task force will review the situation again on November 10.

FAVOURABLE WINDS

• The directions were issued even as Delhi’s air quality improved a day after the city recorded the year’s worst air quality.
   
• The improvement was largely owing to favourable surface winds and upper winds that helped disperse pollutants closer to the ground

Article Type: 

Report

Sections: 

Delhi

India

Authors: 

Nikhil M Ghanekar

Agencies: 

DNA

Tags: 

CAPITAL GASPS

delhi air quality

Air Quality Index (AQI)

Air Quality

Air Pollution

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

EPCA

Supreme Court

Safar

Trucks

Bhure Lal

Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

Wed, 7 Nov 2018-06:15am

Date updated: 

Wednesday, 7 November 2018 - 6:15am

Article Images: 

Clockwise: 1) School children wearing masks as they take part in the awareness drive “My Right to Breathe” to protest high levels of air pollution; 2) The overall air quality index moved to very poor category on Tuesday after it had crossed 400 mark on Wednesday; 3) Workers are seen constructing a brick wall in Greater Noida even after the pollution body had banned all construction activities in Capital and surrounding region; 4) Last couple of days the market areas has seen rise in vehicular traffic due to people rushing to do their last minute Diwali shopping; 5) Commuters drive as smog engulfs Faridabad region; 6) People receive treatment for respiratory problem in a city hospital

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