The Commission for Air Quality Management triggered Stage 2 restrictions after 37 monitoring stations recorded deeply degraded air and three neighborhoods breached severe levels. Fine particulate matter served as the main pollutant, driven predominantly by vehicular traffic, which accounted for nearly a fifth of Monday's total pollution load. Regional forecasts warn that atmospheric conditions will keep pollution levels suppressed in this critical category until at least November 5. Meanwhile, strict border checks turning away non-compliant vehicles have caused severe multi-kilometre tailbacks along major interstate transit routes.
Key points
Atmospheric conditions will keep the capital's air quality suppressed in the 'very poor'…: Atmospheric conditions will keep the capital's air quality suppressed in the 'very poor' category through November 5.
Electric, CNG, and BS-VI compliant vehicles remain fully exempt from the newly enforced b…: Electric, CNG, and BS-VI compliant vehicles remain fully exempt from the newly enforced border restrictions.
Particulate matter PM2.5 was identified by monitoring stations as the primary pollutant d…: Particulate matter PM2.5 was identified by monitoring stations as the primary pollutant driving the seasonal spike.
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NEW DELHI: Delhi’s air quality deteriorated to the ‘very poor’ category for the first time this season on Monday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) settling at 324 by 4 pm, the highest level in nine months.
As pollution levels worsened, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR, while intensified checks at the capital’s borders to enforce vehicle restrictions left commuters stuck in long traffic queues.
The AQI of 324 was the highest recorded since February 4, when it stood at 339. The city’s pollution levels had risen sharply over the previous two days, from 117 in the ‘moderate’ category on October 31 to 261 in the ‘poor’ category on November 1, before entering the ‘very poor’ category on Monday.
Three of Delhi’s air quality monitoring stations reported ‘severe’ pollution at 4pm. Jahangirpuri recorded the worst AQI at 436, followed by Rohini at 415 and Punjabi Bagh at 413.
Of the city’s 58 monitoring stations, 37 reported ‘very poor’ air quality, 17 were in the ‘poor’ category and…
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