New Delhi: Delhi's air quality turned severe by Monday evening as the pollution level increased again due to unfavourable meteorological conditions even as a task force of pollution watchdog the CPCB recommended entry of heavy vehicles into the city and carrying out of construction activities only between 6 am and 6 pm.
The Supreme-Court appointed EPCA also allowed entry of only those vehicles into the city which are stranded at Delhi borders, anticipating the situation getting out of hand with the owners of over a 1,000 trucks getting “restive”, while asserting that they will be exempt from paying toll or environment compensation charge (ECC) from 11 pm on November 12 to 7 am on November 13.
They said by relaxing the payment of toll-ECC, the trucks can move without any stop and this will reduce congestion and reduce pollution.
According to the CPCB, the overall air quality index (AQI) in the national capital was recorded at 406 which falls in the severe category.
The PM2.5 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) level on Monday was recorded at 263 while the PM10 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 10 micrometres) was recorded at 457.
Nineteen areas in Delhi recorded severe air quality while 17 areas showed very poor air quality, the CPCB said, adding Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Greater Noida and Noida recorded severe air quality while Gurgaon showed improvement with the AQI being in the moderate category.
