Meanwhile, in the national capital, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has implemented Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect, from Sunday, to tackle rising pollution levels.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI in the RK Puram area of south west Delhi remains "very poor" at 380, as of 7:00 AM today. The AQI at Anand Vihar also remains "very poor" at 355.
Raising concern regarding higher levels of AQI, Pulmonologist Dr. Sharad Joshi from Ghaziabad said, "Air Quality Index (AQI) has risen significantly, leading to higher levels of particulate pollutants from sources like crop burning, vehicular exhaust, and fireworks. This exacerbates respi
"This decision brings relief to Delhi residents who wished to celebrate Diwali the traditional way. Our government respects people's religious and cultural sentiments, and we have worked tirelessly to ensure they can celebrate responsibly without harming the environment," said Delhi Envir
"There is a risk of light to moderate rain or thundershowers throughout the next two days, after another period of very light to light rain is anticipated in the early hours of Sunday," as per the Met Department.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Sunday announced plans to install outdoor air purifiers at Nehru Park as part of a pilot project to create the city's first "clean air zone".
In view of rising pollution levels, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has enforced Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR with immediate effect.
Forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) have predicted that the AQI will remain in the lower end of the 'Poor' range on May 17 as well.
Delhi woke up on Friday to worsened air quality with the AQI breaching the 300 mark to be categorised as 'very poor'. A sudden spike in dust pollution is causing the air quality to deteriorate.
As the Air Quality Index (AQI) Delhi climbed above 300 mark at several parts of Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal called out Bharaiya Janta Party saying that air pollution was never his bad during AAP regime at this time of year.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-I in Delhi-NCR with immediate effect after the national capital's Air Quality Index went to 'poor' category on Wednesday.