Delhi air quality enters very poor category ahead of Diwali festival
Authorities have invoked Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan as the city's air pollution levels rise.
Air quality in Delhi has deteriorated into the "very poor" category as the city prepares for the Diwali festival, according to reports from BBC News, Telegraph India and Scroll. On Tuesday, the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 350, while Wednesday morning saw readings of 377.
The worsening pollution follows an unusually clean October. Experts have attributed the sudden decline to falling temperatures, low wind speeds and increased crop-residue burning in the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana.
In response, authorities have invoked Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). This includes intensive road cleaning, increased parking charges to reduce private vehicle use, and more public transport services, such as 20 additional weekday trips on the Delhi Metro.
To manage traffic, officials have been instructed to adjust government office hours. Additionally, under the Winter Action Plan, non-Delhi vehicles that do not meet Bharat Stage-6 emission norms are prohibited from entering the capital until 31 January.
The Supreme Court has permitted the use of certified green firecrackers in Delhi and surrounding areas for a limited period. These may only be used between 06:00 and 07:00, and between 20:00 and 22:00 on 7 and 8 November.
Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has accused the Punjab government of misrepresenting stubble burning data, alleging that 271 FIRs had been registered against farmers despite claims from the ruling AAP that no such activity occurred.