Pollution on the wane, EPCA may lift 'emergency' measures

Air quality remained outside the "severe plus" category today and if the trend
prevails till tomorrow, emergency measures such as ban on construction and entry of
trucks may be lifted.

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The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, a Supreme Court-

appointed panel, said it may withdraw all the measures enforced under the 'severe
plus' or emergency category of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) if pollution
remains under control.

The 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of the Central Pollution Control Board
(CPCB) was 361, which falls in the "very poor" category, showing a marginal dip as
compared to yesterday when it was 308, the best in a week.

In a major development, the Centre announced that it has preponed the introduction
of ultra-clean Euro-VI grade petrol and diesel in the national capital by two years to
April 2018 to help fight air pollution.

Even as air quality remained out of emergency category, Delhi chief minister Arvind
Kejriwal and his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar met in Chandigarh and
resolved to put in "sustained efforts" to prevent a repeat of the recent smog episode
in 2018.

The hourly-graph of the Central Control Room for Air Quality Management, which
tracks the levels of PM2.5 and PM10, also captured the declining trend. PM2.5 and
PM10 concentration was recorded as 198 and 307 microgrammes per cubic metre at
7 PM.

The corresponding 24-hour safe standards are 60 and 100. Pollution is considered
severe plus or emergency when these readings are above 300 and 500 respectively.

According to the Centre-run monitoring agency SAFAR (System of Air Quality And
Weather Forecasting And Research), air quality is improving as strong surface winds
are aiding pumping out accumulated pollutants.

However, it said there might be a dip in quality and the AQI may settle in the upper
side of "very poor" from November 17 due to meteorological conditions including a
fall in temperature and entry of moisture.

"But as the speed of wind in the upper layer of the atmosphere is low, possibility of
incursion of pollutants from external sources such as stubble burning is very less," a
SAFAR scientist said.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Fire Services carried out water sprinkling from the 22-storey
high Vikas Minar at ITO in the afernoon for about an hour.

"Before and after the water sprinkling, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee
measured the pollution levels. A report in this regard will be submitted to the National
Green Tribunal tomorrow," a Delhi Fire Services official said.

The process was carried out using a hose pipe that was connected to an overhead
tank.