New Delhi: For the fourth consecutive day, Delhi’s air quality lingered in the ‘Severe’ category this Sunday, though there was a slight improvement in the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) which registered at 410, down from Saturday’s 504, according to the System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR-India).
As per SAFAR-India’s latest findings, Lodhi Road area experienced a ‘Very Poor’ air quality with an AQI of 385, while the Delhi University area recorded a ‘Severe’ level at 456 on the Air Quality Index.
Delhi’s Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, has penned a letter to Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, urging the prohibition of vehicles not adhering to BS-VI emission standards from entering Delhi via its neighbouring states in the NCR region. He has additionally called for an urgent gathering of environmental ministers from neighbouring states.
Amidst the persisting ‘severe’ category of air quality in various areas of Delhi-NCR, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued a directive on Friday, calling upon the Chief Secretaries of the impacted states to promptly address the situation and furnish a report detailing the measures taken in response to the issue.
NGT in a statement said that immediate action is required for the prevention and control of air pollution in these cities so as to ensure better air quality to the residents.
“In view of the NGT seeks response of Chief Secretaries of the States where the cities AQI has dipped to severe, very poor and poor, are directed to take immediate remedial action and submit action taken report before the Tribunal,” added the statement.
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