Delhi air quality worsens

Authorities impose ban on diesel generator sets

On the eve of Deepavali, the air quality in Delhi has entered the red zone, forcing authorities to ban use of diesel generator sets in the city from Tuesday.

With Delhi’s air quality index touching 306 (good air quality index figure should be between 0 and 50), the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority took multiple steps in accordance with the graded response action plan, as approved by the top court.

Emergency services like hospitals and power-starved satellite towns of Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Faridabad have been spared from the diesel generator ban.

Badarpur Thermal Power Plant, located in the southern fringe of the city, will be closed till March 2018. If the air quality deteriorates further, the parking fee would be hiked by close to four times to discourage driving.

These measures were announced by EPCA chairman Bhure Lal and member Sunita Narain following a review meeting involving pollution control board officials from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan.

“Fireworks or not, the national capital will be engulfed in a layer of haze a day after Deepavali, pollution control authorities have alerted. Delhi is likely to experience poor air quality on October 20-21 because of the foggy weather and dust,” A Sudhakar, member secretary, Central Pollution Control Board, said after the meeting.

Last week, the Supreme Court banned sale of crackers and fireworks in Delhi because of the city’s poor air quality.

However, there is no prohibition on lighting the fireworks. The decision angered a section of the right- wing activists, who burst crackers in front of the court to lodge their protest.