National Green Tribunal Lifts Ban On Construction Activities And Entry Of Trucks In Delhi-NCR

New Delhi: As air quality remained out of the emergency category for the third straight day, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on November 17 lifted the ban on construction activities and entry of trucks and asked for preventive measures to be taken in order to control air pollution. This decision is in line with the ban lifted by the Supreme Court mandated Environment Pollution (Prevention And Control) Authority. The EPCA on November 16 withdrew the ban on construction activities, entry of truck and hike in parking fees across Delhi-NCR.

Also Read: As Delhi’s Air Quality Improves, Environment Pollution Control Authority Lifts Emergency Measures

National Green Tribunal allows construction activities in the national capital, asks for preventive measures to be taken in order to control air pollution

— ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2017

Though the ban on construction and trucks has been removed, other measures like ban on stubble burning, sprinkling of water, brick kilns, and closure of Badarpur thermal power plant will continue.

Prohibitory order regarding industries, burning of crops etc shall continue. Sprinkling of water will continue where particles are dense, also to be implemented in the states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Delhi and neighboring states to file status report within two weeks, says NGT.

Prohibitory order regarding industries, burning of crops etc shall continue. Sprinkling of water will continue where particles are dense, also to be implemented in the states of Punjab, Haryana and UP. Delhi and neighboring states to file status report within two weeks: NGT

— ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2017

The emergency measures, part of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), were enforced on November 8 after pollution levels had plunged hitting severe levels along with thick blanket of smog.

Air quality in the national capital on November 16 showed no improvement as the Air Quality Index (AQI) deteriorated a little but still remained in the ‘very poor’ category. According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), AQI on November 16 at 4PM was 363 as opposed to 361 the previous day.

System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) predicted levels of PM2.5 and PM10 in Delhi to remain in ‘very poor’ and ‘poor’ categories, respectively, on November 17.

EPCA member and Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) researcher Usman Nasim said that pollution levels in the region may go up in coming days.

Pollution may increase in next few days due to withdrawal of north-west winds. As wind speed goes down, pollution levels to go up. As per SAFAR, AQI will remain in very poor quality, Mr Nasim told IANS.

Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana has almost come to an end, but vehicular emission and increase in moisture continues to choke city’s air.

With inputs from IANS

Also Read: Steps By Authorities On Air Pollution Woefully Inadequate: High Court