The Special Task Force (STF) in Delhi will be led by the special secretary (environment), and its members will include senior officials from the departments of transport, traffic, revenue, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and Public Works Department (PWD).
“Don’t burst crackers…” Delhi Minister Gopal Rai appeals to people of Delhi on Diwali
Rai informed reporters that the STF will collaborate with all relevant departments engaged in implementing pollution control measures, providing a daily report to the government.
Delhi pollution: No relief for Delhi people as air quality continues to be in ‘severe’ category
Earlier in the day, Rai convened a meeting with various departments to discuss the efficient implementation of anti-air pollution measures.
Rai had previously criticized the relevant departments for their laxity in implementing the air pollution control plan.
He urged them to establish a monitoring mechanism to oversee the teams responsible for enforcing anti-air pollution measures.
Delhi: Drone visuals show thick haze from Anand Vihar Bridge
Stringent restrictions, such as a prohibition on construction activities and the entry of polluting trucks into the capital, were implemented on November 5 under the final stage (Stage IV) of the Centre’s air pollution control plan known as the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
This move came in response to the air quality in the capital reaching “severe plus” levels (AQI above 450).
With the exception of a few days around Diwali, Delhi’s air quality has oscillated between the “very poor” and “severe” categories, primarily attributed to unfavorable meteorological conditions that impede the dispersion of pollutants.
As of 3 pm on Thursday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the capital stood at 412.
The 24-hour average AQI, recorded at 4 pm daily, was 401 on Wednesday, 397 on Tuesday, 358 on Monday, 218 on Sunday, 220 on Saturday, 279 on Friday, and 437 on the preceding Thursday.
Recent findings from a collaborative project between the Delhi government and IIT-Kanpur indicated that vehicular emissions contributed to approximately 38 per cent of the air pollution in the national capital on Wednesday.
The projections suggest that this percentage is expected to increase to 40 per cent on Thursday.
An official from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) noted that calm winds and low temperatures are facilitating the accumulation of pollutants, and there is little likelihood of relief over the next few days.
With agency inputs