Delhi Weather: A light smog covered multiple parts of the national capital on Tuesday, resulting in the city's air quality falling into the 'poor category'.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was measured at 274 at 8 a.m.
Images from Akshardham Temple, ITO, Anand Vihar, and the Delhi-Noida Direct Flyway reveal a layer of smog in these regions, resulting in reduced visibility.
Based on CPCB data, as of 8 am, the AQI at Anand Vihar was 294, ITO 235, IGI Airport (T3) 256, Chandni Chowk and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium 250, Okhla Phase-2 277, Punjabi Bagh and Wazirpur 298, all of which are classified as 'poor'.
An AQI ranging from 0-50 is labeled as 'good', 51-100 as 'satisfactory', 101-200 as 'moderate', 201-300 as 'poor', 301-400 as 'very poor', and 401-500 as 'severe'.
The Supreme Court declined to ease the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)-IV measures to control air pollution in Delhi earlier on Monday and will consider the matter in the next hearing.
A panel comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and A G Masih noted that none of the NCR states — Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh — adhered to its order to compensate construction workers. The bench has instructed the chief secretaries of these states to attend the next session virtually.
The supreme court stated that work commences only when it summons the highest-ranking officials.
The Supreme Court stressed that it will allow the exemption only after noticing a decline and stated it will listen to the parties on Thursday about changes to GRAP IV's applicability.
Meanwhile, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati provided data on AQI and recommendations for relaxing GRAP IV, but the court was not persuaded due to the fluctuating AQI. The Supreme Court directed the CAQM to notify all concerned authorities about the mitigation measures and to coordinate their implementation efforts.
The court also emphasized the concerning observations from the court commissioners' report, pointing out a total absence of coordination between the MCD, Delhi Police, DPCC, and other authorities. It mentioned that it is the Commission's duty to make sure that the actions of all these institutions are synchronized to enforce the measures.
(Input From ANI)