India
AQI level in the ‘severe plus’ category; flights diverted; staggered office hours: Top updates from Delhi’s pollution crisis | India News – Times of India
The Commission on Air Quality Management (CAQM) has approved the Graduated response action plan (GRAP) Phase 4 in Delhi NCR from Monday after the city’s daily average AQI rose sharply to 441 at 4 pm on Sunday, and further escalated to 457 at 7 pm, prompting an emergency meeting of the GRAP sub-committee.
The Phase IV response includes an eight-point action plan aimed at mitigating the pollution crisis. Key measures include banning the entry of trucks into Delhi, except those carrying essential goods or providing essential services.
These are the most important developments:
Supreme Court orders GRAP 4 restrictions to be in effect across NCR even if AQI falls below 400
A bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih said in its order: “We direct all governments of the NCR region to strictly implement Phase 4 of GRAP. All states will immediately form teams to monitor the implementation of the actions required under Phase 4.”
“The governments of the NCR countries and the central government will have to immediately invoke the actions provided for in clauses 6, 7 and 8 of phase 4 and record the decision taken before the next date,” the top court added .
The Supreme Court also directed the Delhi government and other NCR governments to set up a grievance mechanism through which citizens can file complaints against violations of actions under Phase 4.
“We direct the Delhi government and other governments to create grievance redressal mechanisms to enable citizens to file complaints regarding violations under Phase 4. We direct the commission to promptly investigate the complaints and take action. We make it clear that until further orders are passed by this court, the implementation of phase 4 will continue even if the AQI levels fall below 450,” the apex court said.
“It is the constitutional obligation of the state and the Center that citizens live in a pollution-free environment. The Supreme Court says that apart from all clauses of GRAP Phase 3 and 4, all necessary steps must be taken by the government to ensure that the situation normalises,” it added.
LG is leading the implementation of staggered working hours for government offices
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena directed the implementation of staggered office hours as part of the measures under GRAP-4.
According to a notification issued by the LG office, the offices under MCD will operate from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, while the offices under GNCTD will function from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM.
The new office timings will be in force till February 28, 2025 in all offices under the Government of NCT of Delhi and Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
14 flights to Delhi have been diverted due to poor visibility
So far, fourteen Delhi-bound flights have been diverted to Jaipur and Dehradun as poor weather conditions led to poor visibility, impacting aircraft operations in the national capital.
The Delhi airport also issued an advisory to passengers saying that flight operations could be affected but ‘Low Visibility Procedures’ are still ongoing at the airport.
“Low visibility procedures are still in place at Delhi Airport and flight operations at Delhi Airport may be affected. Passengers are requested to contact the relevant airline for updated flight information. Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted” , is the advice.
Also read: ‘Constitutional obligation of governments to provide pollution-free environment to citizens’: SC orders GRAP 4 restrictions to be in force across NCR even if AQI falls below 400
‘
“Number of stubble burning incidents have increased in two years under the BJP government in UP,” says Delhi minister
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai sharply criticized the BJP-led central government for its inaction in tackling the ongoing air pollution crisis in the national capital.
“We all know that stubble burning is a major factor in today’s increasing pollution. Our government in Punjab was formed in 2022. Between October 15 and 17, 2022, 47,000 incidents of stubble burning were reported in Punjab. We worked on it for two years. year and reduced the number from 47,000 to 7,500. On the other hand, the BJP government in UP, where the number of stubble burnings has increased from 1,500 to 2,500 in two years,” Rai said.
Rai also accused the Center of not taking immediate steps to tackle pollution in north India.
“During this critical time, the BJP is silent and the central government seems to be in deep slumber despite the urgent need for action,” Rai said.
