NEW DELHI, Nov 11 (KUNA) -- Indian authorities on Tuesday imposed several strict actions, including banning construction, demolition and diesel vehicles in Delhi and National Capital Region as air quality deteriorated to severe category for the first time this year.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said in a statement that the Sub-Committee on the Graded Response Action Plan of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas invoked all actions as envisaged under Stage-III of 'Severe' Air Quality with immediate effect. The Central Pollution Control Board data showed that the average Air Quality Index recorded 425 at 4:00 pm, falling into severe category for the first time in this year.
The authorities ordered to implement all actions as envisaged under Stage-III by all the agencies concerned with immediate effect along with Stages I and II actions already in force.
The proposed actions include banning construction and demolition activities, close down operations of stone crushers, close down all mining and associated activities and impose strict restrictions on plying of diesel vehicles in Delhi and in the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.
Any reading above 400 in a maximum 500 scale is considered dangerous even for healthy people.
Delhi is considered one of the most polluted cities in the world according to several studies on global air quality. The high level of air pollution in the Indian capital is attributed to crackers, industrial and vehicular pollution, construction related pollution and burning of stubbles in neighbouring states. (end) atk.hb