New Delhi: Following the Supreme Court’s suggestion, the Delhi government on Wednesday announced a ban on the entry of app-based taxis registered in other states. The Delhi Transport Department will issue a separate order specifying the start date of the prohibition.
As per the Delhi government’s order, only cabs bearing the registration number of Delhi will be allowed to ply within the city.
The announcement came after the overall air quality in Delhi dropped back to the ‘severe’ category on Wednesday, a day after showing marginal improvement when it was in the ‘very poor’ category.
The city’s overall air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 421 at 7 am, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The Supreme Court has been passing a slew of directions every year to ease the concerns of people dealings with the issue of air pollution, particularly in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) during the months of October and November.
Following a decline in air quality to “severe plus” (AQI above 450) levels in the capital, restrictions under GRAP stage IV went into effect on Sunday. These included a prohibition on all types of construction activities and the entry of trucks that emit pollution into the city.
Satellites images on Wednesday revealed a thick cloud of black smoke engulfing all of northern India. The fields of Punjab and Haryana, where stubble burning is a yearly custom, made a significant contribution.