To combat pollution, the Delhi government on Wednesday issued 10 directions, including a ban on the entry of trucks carrying non-essential items in the city and closure of schools and colleges till further orders, even as the air quality improved marginally due to a dip in emissions from farm fires.
The Delhi government has banned construction and demolition activities in the city till November 21.
It has also ordered its employees to work from home till Sunday.The city government had earlier announced the closure of all schools, colleges and educational institutions till Sunday and banned construction and demolition activities till November 17. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said 1,000 private CNG buses will be hired to strengthen the public transport system. The process will start on Thursday.
Delhi’s air quality improved marginally, registering the 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) at 375 on Wednesday from 403 the day before. Authorities, however, said no major improvement is likely till Sunday. Faridabad (378), Ghaziabad (361), Greater Noida (362), Gurugram (344) and Noida (356) also recorded their air quality in the ’very poor’ category.The minimum temperature in the capital dropped to 9.6 degrees Celsius, three notches below normal and the lowest this season so far. The maximum temperature settled at 27.4 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. VK Soni of the IMD on Tuesday told the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) that a lower ventilation index due to low temperatures and calm wind conditions is predicted between Wednesday and Sunday, which is unfavourable for dispersion of pollutants.
Announcing emergency measures to reduce pollution in the national capital, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday said that there will be 100% work from home (WFH) for the government departments till Sunday.
