Delhi Air Quality Deteriorates to 'Severe Plus' Levels, Prompting Emergency Measures

New Delhi recorded 'severe plus' air pollution on Monday, with the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to 481, the highest this season. In response, stringent anti-pollution measures have been implemented, including shifting all classes except Grades 10 to 12 online, stricter controls on polluting vehicles, and the suspension of construction activities.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an Orange Alert for dense fog in the city, which severely impacted visibility and disrupted flight operations, causing delays of 30 minutes to an hour. Airlines, including SpiceJet and IndiGo, have urged passengers to confirm flight schedules and brace for potential delays due to slow-moving traffic.

Consecutive Days of Severe Pollution

Monday marked the second consecutive day of 'severe plus' air quality, following an AQI of 457 recorded on Sunday evening. Most of Delhi's 39 monitoring stations reported AQIs above 450. Neighbouring cities faced varying pollution levels: Noida (384, 'very poor'), Faridabad (320, 'poor'), Ghaziabad (400) and Gurugram (446), both in the 'severe' category.

Anti-Pollution Measures Under GRAP Stage IV

Strict regulations under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage IV have been imposed:

- Entry of non-essential trucks into Delhi is prohibited unless they use clean fuel.

- Construction activities, including public infrastructure projects, have been suspended.

- Offices in the NCR are operating at 50% capacity, with remote work encouraged.

The odd-even vehicle scheme and further work-from-home policies for central government employees remain under consideration.

Impact on Schools and Public Transport

All schools up to Class 9 have transitioned to online learning, while face masks and limited outdoor activities are mandated for students attending physical classes. In Haryana's Sonipat district, schools up to Class 5 have been closed due to poor air quality. Additional buses and metro services have been deployed to ease commuter challenges amid restrictions.

Supreme Court Hearing on Pollution Measures

The Supreme Court is set to hear a plea urging immediate enforcement of pollution control measures in Delhi. Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih will preside over the matter, which argues against Delhi becoming the world's most polluted city.

Contributing Factors and Ongoing Challenges

Vehicular emissions and stubble burning in neighbouring states remain major contributors. On Sunday, Punjab reported over 400 new farm fire incidents, raising the season's total to 8,404.

Delhi's Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced additional public transport measures, including deploying 106 more cluster buses and increasing metro trips by 60 daily, to counter worsening air quality.