Construction halts in Delhi as air quality is likely to deteriorate from tomorrow, AQI will fall further

Most construction and demolition activities in Delhi have been suspended as air quality is likely to get worst from Tuesday. The AQI is expected to fall further.

Air quality is expected to decline further in Delhi in the coming days. (Representative image)

By India Today Web Desk: As air quality will deteriorate from tomorrow, construction and demolition activities in Delhi have been suspended. The air quality index reached 415 on Monday, that is, in the ‘severe’ category in the Anand Vihar area, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

The AQI at IGI Airport (T3) also fell into the ‘very bad’ category on Monday. Meanwhile, the AQI stood at 377 near Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the state government has halted most construction work in Delhi.

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He said a total of 586 teams had been formed to monitor the construction work. However, an exemption would be granted for the construction of hospitals, railways, airports and other public activities.

TOP REASONS FOR POLLUTION

Speaking at a conference on Sunday, he said: “The main reasons for the pollution are dust, biomass combustion and emissions from vehicles. Apart from that, changes in the meteorological situation and air movement contribute to high pollution levels.”

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“As of today, we initiate GRAP-III and set up a strong mechanism to control the construction and demolition. 586 teams from different DMRC, NDRF, CPWD, MCD, irrigation, flood departments, etc. done on critical construction sites exempt from GRAP -III for dust management,” he added.

MOBILE SMOG GUNS AT ANAND VIHAR

As the AQI crossed the 400 mark in Anand Vihar, nearly 15 mobile smog cannons were aimed at the hot spots to minimize pollution.

Rai said: “We are also going to use fire vehicles apart from sprinklers in hot spots. 521 water sprinklers are active in Delhi. 233 anti-smog guns are stationed at construction sites. Nearly 115 mobile anti-smog guns are active.

RAI CHALLENGES BUSES

With AQI reaching the ‘severe’ category in Anand Vihar, Rai blamed the car emissions from Uttar Pradesh’s (UP) government buses for the drop in air quality.

He requested the UP government to carry out a check on the UP state buses running around the border areas in Delhi.