Air quality ‘severe’ in Delhi, NGT fines AAP government

The national capital on Wednesday woke up to a 'poor' air quality. In the Anand Vihar area, the Air Quality Index (AQI) PM 2.5 was at 308 (very poor category) and PM 10 at 258 (poor category), according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). At the Major Dhyan Chand National area, PM 2.5 was at 202 (poor category) and PM 10 at 180 (poor category). AQI at Siri Fort Delhi was recorded hazardous, PM 2.5 was at 193 (poor category) while PM 10 at 334 (very poor category).

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On Monday, six areas --- Ashok Vihar, Anand Vihar, Burari, Mundaka, Nehru Nagar and Wazirpur --- recorded severe air quality, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The National Green Tribunal (NGT) slapped a cost of Rs 25 crore on the Delhi government for failing to curb pollution in the city. The money is to be deposited with the CPCB and will be utilised by the agency exclusively for anti-pollution measures.

Ghaziabad recorded severe pollution level at 404, while Faridabad and Noida recorded "very poor" air quality, according to the CPCB data. In Gurugram, the air quality was "poor", it said.

Earlier, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation collected Rs 3.5 lakh as penalties from seven construction companies for "violation" of air pollution control norms. “Each company has been slapped with a fine of Rs 50,000,” the SDMC said in a statement.

"SDMC has taken massive action during first three days of December against seven construction companies involved in generating air pollution and deteriorating pollution level in the city. Each company has been fined with an amount of Rs 50,000 resulting in the recovery of Rs 3.5 lakh," the statement said.

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Delhi is reeling under the menace of air pollution for the past couple of years. The region faced a major air quality crisis last year when severe pollution level forced the shutdown of schools and colleges. In 2016, the government tried to explore the possibility of cloud seeding for artificial rain but the plan never worked out. 

AQI categories:

1. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’
2. AQI between 51 and 100 is ‘satisfactory’
3. AQI between 101 and 200 is ‘moderate’
4. AQI between 201 and 300 is ‘poor’
5. AQI between 301 and 400 is ‘very poor’