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Arvind Kejriwal Says May Extend Odd-Even As Pollution Spikes In Delhi

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  • Arvind Kejriwal Says May Extend Odd-Even As Pollution Spikes In Delhi

    The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi to provide air quality index (AQI) data from the date of introducing the odd-even scheme to November 14.
    Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said he may consider extending the odd-even road rationing scheme, which ends on Friday, if pollution levels in the national capital continue to spike.

    “If required we can extend odd-even scheme,” Kejriwal said.

    The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi to provide air quality index (AQI) data from the date of introducing the odd-even scheme to November 14. The court also sought data for the same period from last year.

    Air pollution levels were likely to enter the “severe-plus” or “emergency” category on Wednesday. Such severe air pollution can worsen existing respiratory illnesses and also affect even healthy people.

    Government’s air quality monitor, System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), said that winds carrying plumes of smoke from stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana have led the spike in the pollution.

    According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, Delhi’s average air quality index (AQI) was 457 at 6.40 am on Wednesday.

    AQI between 201 and 300 is categorized as poor. The 301-400 range is considered very poor and 401-500 severe. The AQI above 500 falls under the severe plus category.

  • #2
    Odd-Even Rule Ends In Delhi, Number Of Violators Dips This Time


    The anti-pollution measure kicked-in on November 4 as the city's air quality reached the "Severe" category.
    The third edition of the odd-even road rationing rule implemented due to poor air quality in Delhi ended on Friday with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal saying a decision on extending it further will be taken on November 18. The anti-pollution measure kicked-in on November 4 as the city's air quality reached the "severe" category.

    The number of challans issued for violations of the rule during nine days, excluding Sunday, was comparatively less this time than its previous editions. A total of 4,885 violators were fined this time. The violators were fined Rs 4,000 each.

    The odd-even rule was lifted on November 11 and 12 to ensure hassle-free commute on the occasion of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
    The scheme was first introduced from January 1-15, 2016 and implemented again from April 15-30 in the same year. The rule was exempted on two Sundays each in the first two editions. A total of 10,021 and 7,300 challans were issued in the first two editions, respectively. The fine for violation of the scheme was earlier Rs 2,000, which has been hiked as per the amended Motor Vehicle Act.
    The dip in the number of violations this year has been ascribed to higher compliance by Delhi motorists, by the AAP government.
    Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia claimed that people were "religiously" following the odd-even rule.

    However, the opposition BJP and Congress termed it an election stunt by the Kejriwal government ahead of the assembly polls, and questioned its efficacy in reducing pollution.


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    • #3
      National Capital's battle for a breath of fresh air continues for the fifth day consecutively as the overall AQI on Saturday too was recorded at the "Severe" category, according to government of India's air quality information service SAFAR.

      The overall air quality index on Saturday morning in Delhi was recorded at a whopping 505, which means that the condition has only worsened from a day before when the overall AQI was at 482. National Capital's battle for a breath of fresh air continues for the fifth day consecutively as the overall AQI on Saturday too was recorded at the "Severe" category, according to government of India's air quality information service SAFAR.

      The overall air quality index on Saturday morning in Delhi was recorded at a whopping 505, which means that the condition has only worsened from a day before when the overall AQI was at 482.

      The AQI near Lodhi Road in wee hours of Saturday stood at 521(PM10) and 599(PM2.5).

      In one of Delhi's busiest areas, Chandi Chowk, the AQI at 6:30 AM on Saturday was recorded at 471 (PM10) and 504 (PM2.5), which fall under the "Severe" category.

      In the neighbouring city, Ghaziabad, which is also considered as the most-polluted city in the country, the overall AQI on Saturday was 500 at 6 AM.

      In Noida too, the situation was no better as the AQI stood at 500 (PM10) and 471 (PM2.5)


      The AQI near Lodhi Road in wee hours of Saturday stood at 521(PM10) and 599(PM2.5).

      In one of Delhi's busiest areas, Chandi Chowk, the AQI at 6:30 AM on Saturday was recorded at 471 (PM10) and 504 (PM2.5), which fall under the "Severe" category.

      In the neighbouring city, Ghaziabad, which is also considered as the most-polluted city in the country, the overall AQI on Saturday was 500 at 6 AM.

      In Noida too, the situation was no better as the AQI stood at 500 (PM10) and 471 (PM2.5)

      It’s better to give than to receive. Especially advice

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      • #4
        Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday asserted that there is a "very strong correlation" between stubble burning and pollution in north India as he attributed the improvement in air quality to dip in cases of setting crop residue afire.

        Kejriwal and the ruling AAP have been at the forefront of blaming stubble burning in neighboring Punjab and Haryana as one of the major reasons for high levels of air pollution during winters in Delhi.

        "A very strong correlation can be seen between stubble burning and the spike in air pollution in North India. As soon as stubble burning began in the first week of Oct, the AQIstarted rising. Now that burning is coming to an end, air quality is also improving'" the chief minister tweeted.

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        • #5
          Delhi pollution: Odd-even scheme not needed anymore, ‘skies are clear’, claims Arvind Kejriwal

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          • #6
            Delhi's Air Quality Very Poor
            Air quality in the national capital entered the very poor category on Wednesday and is likely to turn severe over the next two days due to prevailing calm winds and increased incidents of farm fires, officials said.

            The national capital's air quality index (AQI) was 301 at 4 pm on Wednesday, up from 242 at 4 pm on Tuesday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
            With an AQI of 366, Ghaziabad was the most polluted in the country on Wednesday, the CPCB data revealed. Greater Noida (340) and Noida (320) also recorded their AQI in the "very poor" category.
            An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered "poor", 301-400 "very poor" and 401-500 "severe". The government's air quality monitoring and forecasting service SAFAR said the air quality in Delhi may enter the severe category in some parts of Delhi by Friday.

            It will be mainly due to two factors -- calm surface winds in Delhi are likely to prevent dispersion of pollutants and the fire count has increased significantly (around 1,000) as compared to last week.


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            • #7
              Air Quality Severe In Many Parts Of Delhi-NCR, Haze Returns


              Accumulated pollutants took the form of a haze, thick enough to draw a veil across the sun, which left people with itchy eyes, headache and breathing problems.
              Delhi-NCR saw a surge in the number of masked faces on Thursday as pollution levels inched towards the 'severe' zone due to calm winds, low temperature, and high humidity, officials said.

              Accumulated pollutants took the form of a haze, thick enough to draw a veil across the sun, which left people with itchy eyes, headache and breathing problems. Experts said the situation is likely to worsen in the next 24 hours, while some relief is expected on Saturday.

              The overall air quality index (AQI) in the national capital read 366 at 4 pm on Thursday, up from 301 on Wednesday, and the maximum since November 16 (357). The AQI for Rohini (414), Anand Vihar (422), Nehru Nagar (410), Dwarka Sector 8 (404) and Bawana (407) entered the 'severe' zone. Neighboring Ghaziabad (415), Greater Noida (402), Noida (402) also recorded 'severe' pollution levels, while the AQI in Faridabad (391) bordered the 'severe' zone.
              An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe'.
              According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), very low wind speed due to a western disturbance and high humidity due to shallow fog in the morning led to the accumulation of pollutants.
              A senior IMD scientist said the air quality is expected to remain 'severe' on Thursday and Friday. An expert at Skymet Weather, a private forecaster, said moderate winds from November 23 would bring some relief but it will be temporary as another western disturbance from November 25 will again cause the wind speed to dip.


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              • #8
                Air Quality In Delhi-Ncr Satisfactory, May Dip Slightly On Saturday


                It is predicted to dip slightly on Saturday due to a change in wind direction and a drop in wind speed.
                The air quality in Delhi-NCR improved to "satisfactory" levels on Friday, for the first time in around two months, as a result of rains and favorable wind speed over the last two to three days. However, it is predicted to dip slightly on Saturday due to a change in wind direction and a drop in wind speed.
                The overall air quality index in the city read 84 at 4 pm -- the best reading since October 5, when it was 98.

                Most of the 37 air quality monitoring stations in Delhi recorded the AQI in the "satisfactory" category. Alipur registered the best AQI of 56. Neighboring Ghaziabad (84), Gurgaon (84), Faridabad (70), Noida (83) and Greater Noida (90) also breathed comparatively cleaner air.
                An AQI between 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe'. An AQI above 500 falls in the 'severe plus' category.

                Weather experts said slow wind speed (6-8 kilometers per hour) would lead to a dip in the air quality on Saturday but no drastic deterioration is expected.
                The wind direction is northwesterly but the share of farm fires in Delhi's pollution will only be around six percent on Friday as stubble burning has almost come to an end, they said. The Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) said, "AQI is likely to slip to the poor category on Saturday."

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