Latest Updates on Delhi air quality

Delhi battles cold wave, dense fog as air quality remains 'very poor'

Delhi faces extreme air pollution as dense fog and a cold wave persist; AQI hits hazardous levels, with vehicular emissions and industry driving hazardous conditions

MCD imposes ₹33.95 lakh fine on construction sites over Grap-IV violations

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has imposed challans worth Rs 33.95 lakh on construction sites over the past week for violating restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to curb air pollution, officials said on Saturday. The civic body said construction and demolition activities remain strictly prohibited in Delhi during the GRAP-IV period, in line with directions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). MCD enforcement teams carried out inspections across all zones and physically verified 1,792 construction sites, issuing 771 challans where violations were detected. In November alone, the corporation had issued over 900 challans amounting to Rs 1.5 crore for similar violations, the officials said. As part of the intensified enforcement drive, the MCD imposed a Rs 5 lakh challan on a builder in Dwarka's Sector 19B, besides levying penalties at another site for failure to adopt dust mitigatio

Strict action against polluting industries, ban violators in Delhi: Sirsa

With the air quality in Delhi remaining close to 'severe' category, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Saturday said strict action will be taken against polluting industries and those violating construction ban in the national capital. Sirsa, citing forecast of the India Meteorological Department, said that a western disturbance is likely to impact Delhi on Sunday, which could lead to unfavourable weather conditions, further worsening air quality. He said GRAP 4 restrictions are currently in force across the city. The minister said authorities are receiving several complaints about construction activities taking place despite the ban, and warned that strict action will be taken against violators. Sirsa directed all industries in Delhi to strictly comply with pollution control norms, stressing that no polluting industry should function during the enforcement period. "We cannot compromise with the health of Delhi residents. Any industry found polluting or operating illega

Delhi's air on verge of severe; AQI at 398 as thick haze shrouds capital

The sky remained shrouded in dull grey, while a thick haze descended upon the capital on Saturday, with the air quality on the brink of "severe". At 4 pm, Delhi's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 398 -- just two points shy of the threshold -- while several monitoring stations across the city reported readings in the 'severe' category. Meanwhile, hourly AQI readings from the CPCB's SAMEER app showed that air quality worsened during the evening hours, slipping into the severe category at 401, at 5 pm. Of the 40 monitoring stations across the city, 22 recorded air quality in the severe range, while 17 logged readings in the 'very poor' category. Chandni Chowk reported the worst air quality, with an AQI reading of 464, in the 'severe plus' category. With the sun largely obscured by clouds and suspended pollutants, visibility was greatly reduced. Amid prevailing cold-wave conditions, the average air quality in the capital deteriorated to 398 on Saturday, compare

100K PUC applications received in 3 days amid anti-pollution curbs in Delhi

More than one lakh vehicle owners applied for Pollution Under Control certificates in the last three days amid intensified enforcement against polluting vehicles in the national capital, Delhi Transport and Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said on Saturday. Singh said the BJP government is working on long-term and data-driven solutions to address air pollution in the national capital, asserting that transport-related emissions contribute around 20-25 per cent to Delhi's overall pollution. Singh said that in the last three days, a large number of people have come forward to obtain PUC certificates. Over one lakh people registered for PUC certificates during this period, including more than 40,000 on December 19 alone, he added. The minister said officials from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and police are deployed at petrol pumps with cameras used to monitor vehicles. First-time violators are issued warnings, while repeat offenders face challans, he said, adding tha

Hazardous air grips Delhi, several areas slip into severe AQI levels

Delhi's air quality remained hazardous with the AQI in the very poor category. Several locations slipped into severe levels as Grap Stage IV curbs took effect amid dense fog and cold wave conditions

Reduction in vehicular movement on roads after Grap-4 imposed: Delhi govt

The Delhi government on Thursday said a noticeable reduction in vehicular movement was observed on the city roads following strict enforcement of anti-pollution measures under GRAP-4, with increased public compliance with the Pollution Under Control (PUC) norms. In response to rising air pollution levels in the capital, the Delhi government on Thursday undertook a comprehensive monitoring exercise to assess the impact of the stringent measures implemented for pollution control, said an official statement. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta reviewed feedback received from her cabinet colleagues and their respective departments, and observed that the measures implemented by the government have delivered positive results on the ground. Following the government's directives, a noticeable reduction in vehicular movement was observed on Delhi's roads compared to normal days. In a significant trend, a large number of vehicle owners voluntarily obtained Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates,

Delhi pollution crisis: No fuel without PUC as air quality continues to dip

Bans entry of non-Delhi private vehicles below BS-VI standards

Queues thin out at Delhi fuel stations as 'No PUC, No Fuel' rule kicks in

With fewer vehicles rolling in and enforcement teams stationed at entrances, petrol pumps across the national capital on Thursday wore a quieter look as the 'No PUC, No Fuel' rule came into force to curb worsening air pollution. At several fuel stations, vehicles were seen queued up as pollution certificates were checked, while some motorists without documents were turned away, prompting a few to make phone calls for help. At a Janpath petrol pump, Mukesh Kumar said the rules were justified but also questioned how people could be expected to stop using vehicles bought with hard-earned money. Another consumer at the pump supported the move, saying the rule was necessary to control pollution. A DTC in charge, JD Sharma, deployed at a petrol pump, said checks were being carried out manually as there were no cameras at the location. "We are checking pollution certificates and noting down vehicle details, which will be shared with the department concerned," he said. At the Delhi-Noida

Delhi air remains 'very poor' as non-BS VI private vehicles barred

GRAP Stage IV measures remain in force across Delhi-NCR as authorities bar non-BS VI private vehicles, enforce 'No PUC, No Fuel', tighten construction curbs and advise at least 50% work-from-home

'No PUC, No Fuel' rule to be implemented in Delhi today amid worsening AQI

Delhi government's series of strict measures to deal with the air pollution crisis comes into effect today, as the city continues to grapple with severe air quality

Supreme Court ends protection to BS-III, older vehicles in Delhi-NCR

The Supreme Court has asked civic and highways authorities to examine suspending or relocating toll plazas at Delhi's borders to ease congestion and emissions amid very poor air quality

Ban demolition work in NCR from Oct to Dec: Union Minister Bhupender Yadav

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Wednesday said that demolition work should be prohibited in the National Capital Region (NCR) during the peak pollution period, i.e., October to December. Chairing a high-level meeting to review action plans of the municipal bodies of Delhi and Sonepat, he also said that construction and demolition work should not be allowed in the region until construction and demolition waste handling and processing infrastructure is created and identified within a 10 km radius of the site. The minister asked all agencies to work in mission mode to achieve a 40 per cent reduction in the air quality index over the next one year. Stressing the importance of a "Whole-of-Government" and "Whole-of-Society" approach to effectively address air pollution, he said there is a need to improve the "global image of the national capital". He directed the removal of illegal parking and encroachments from 62 identified traffic congestion hotspots in Delhi. "A detail

Delhi to overhaul PUC system, roll out carpool app to curb air pollution

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the government would provide ₹2,700 crore over a ten-year period to the MCD for procuring mechanical road sweepers and litter pickers

SC allows ban on 10-yr diesel, 15-yr petrol vehicles below BS-IV in Delhi

The clarification modifies the court's August 12 order, which had earlier barred coercive action against such vehicles in the National Capital Region

Severe air pollution dents Delhi retail trade, footfall falls: CTI

Rising air pollution in Delhi-NCR has begun to severely impact retail trade in the national capital, with a sharp decline in market footfall, traders' body Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) said on Wednesday. Brijesh Goyal, chaiman of CTI, said, "As the air quality in Delhi slipped into the 'severe' category and it got widespread coverage across television, newspapers and social media, people are increasingly cautious about stepping out, resulting in shoppers are avoiding markets. This has led to a visible slowdown in business activity." According to the CTI, while nearly three to four lakh people from the National Capital Region (NCR) earlier visited Delhi markets daily for shopping, the number has now dropped to around one lakh due to worsening pollution levels. Goyal said the organisation has written to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, expressing concern over air pollution and its adverse impact on trade. With Christmas and New Year approaching, markets usually witn