Delhi: Private cars to be stopped from tomorrow if air quality worsens, says official

Delhi’s air pollution is again breaching the hazardous levels. However, taking a cognizance in this, Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) on Tuesday said private cars will be stopped from plying in the capital if air pollution continues to worsen.

Environment Pollution Control Authority on Tuesday said that private cars will be stopped from plying in the capital if air pollution continues to worsen.

“Let us hope the air pollution situation in Delhi doesn’t deteriorate or else we will have to stop plying of private vehicles. Only public transport will be used,” Bhure Lal, Chairman, Environment Pollution Control Authority, was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Importantly, EPCA, appointed by India’s Supreme Court, has already proposed halting construction, the use of diesel-run power generators, brick kilns and the burning of garbage between November 1 and November 10 when the pollution levels are expected to rise.

Air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Tuesday deteriorated further after an overnight spike in Particulate Matter (PM). The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 3 pm was 401, falling in the ‘severe’ category, the highest this season.

It is to be noted that an AQI between 0 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’.

Meanwhile, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) said that the prevailing meteorological conditions are less favourable for dispersal of pollutants for the next two days due to moderate ventilation index and low wind speed.

According to a report unveiled by WHO, over one lakh children under five years of age died in India in 2016 due to exposure to toxic air. The report also revealed that about 98 percent of children in the same age group in low and middle-income countries were exposed to air pollution.

Also Read: Arvind Kejriwal launches ‘sapling plantation’ programme to counter pollution