Delhi and Loni air quality slip into severe category
Air pollution levels have worsened across the national capital and neighbouring Loni, with several monitoring stations recording hazardous readings.
Air quality in Delhi and the western Uttar Pradesh town of Loni deteriorated into the severe category on Friday, according to reports from Hindustan Times, Scroll, and The Economic Times. In Delhi, the average Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 403 at 8.05 am, with 34 of the 59 monitoring stations recording levels above 400.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi recorded the highest AQI in the capital at 488. Other high readings were noted at Chandni Chowk at 479 and North Campus, Delhi University, at 478. In Loni, the New Tehsil-Loni station touched an AQI of 470 on Tuesday, while the UP Pollution Control Board's Loni station recorded 245 at 5.05 pm.
The deteriorating conditions have led to the enforcement of Stage III restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). These measures include stopping non-essential construction and demolition work, alongside limits on vehicles that do not meet BS-VI emission standards.
UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) regional officer Ankit Singh stated that more than 2,800 public construction sites in Ghaziabad district have been ordered to stop work. He added that authorities are monitoring the situation and will penalise any violations of the restrictions.
In Loni, District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mandar has instructed various departments, including the Ghaziabad Development Authority and the police, to create coordinated plans to control pollution. Residents have reported breathing difficulties and eye irritation due to the hazardous air.
