Delhi Air Quality: As capital gasps, Supreme Court bans old petrol, diesel vehicles

With Delhi’s air quality deteriorating to abysmal levels, the Supreme Court on Monday prohibited the plying of 15-year-old petrol and 10-year-old diesel vehicles in the national capital and also made it clear that such vehicles would be impounded if found on the roads in Delhi-NCR.

Terming as "very critical" and "horrible" the prevailing pollution situation in Delhi-NCR, the apex court directed that a list of 15-year-old petrol and 10-year-old diesel vehicles be published on the website of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and transport departments of the NCR area.

Read More | Scientists confirm existence of ghostly dust clouds Kordylewski

On Tuesday, the air quality index (AQI) in the Lodhi Road area was in the ‘poor’ category with PM2.5 at 280 and PM10 at 280.

Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi's Lodhi Road area; prominent pollutants PM 2.5 at 280 and PM 10 at 280 both in 'poor' category. pic.twitter.com/RIeKzsKqV0

— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2018

On Sunday, Delhi recorded its worst air quality of this season as a thick haze engulfed the national capital. The overall AQI was recorded at 381 which falls in the very ‘poor’ category, just points below ‘severe’ pollution level, according to data by the Central Pollution Control Board.

Air Quality Index (AQI) categories

AQI of 0-50 is considered good
AQI of 51-100 is satisfactory
AQI of 101-200 is considered moderate
AQI of 201-300 is graded poor
AQI of 301-400 is very poor
AQI of 401 and 500 is severe

Last week, the Supreme Court  had ruled that people in the country can burst firecrackers only from 8 pm to 10 pm only on Diwali permitting the sale and manufacture of low emission “green” firecrackers countrywide.

Also Read | Train 18: India's first engine-less train rolled out, to replace Shatabdi Express; Here are things to know

Environment and health experts welcomed the order, with some describing it as a “spectacular” decision, while others saying it was time the society celebrated festive occasions “more responsibly”.

 Authorities attribute the dip in air quality to localised factors such as construction dust, vehicular pollution as well as regional factors such as pollution due stubble burning from neighbouring Punjab and Haryana.