On the afternoon of November 1, 2019, a public health emergency was declared in Delhi, after the air quality jumped to ‘severe plus’ levels since the night of October 31. At around 11 am on Friday, the overall air quality index (AQI) was around 530.
Delhi Air Pollution Live Updates
After the air quality jumped to ‘severe plus’ levels, the Central Pollution Control Board has declared a public health emergency in Delhi as well as in nearby areas as the region clogs because of the rising air pollution levels since Diwali.
An AQI is considered ‘good’ when it is between 0-50, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and 401-500 ‘severe’. But more than 500 is considered to be the ‘severe-plus’ or ‘emergency’ category.
EPCA announces Public Health Emergency
Seeing the situation, today Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal described the city as a “gas chamber” while distributing breathing masks to school children.
The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority on the other hand has also banned construction activity up till November 5 as the pollution levels come into the “severe plus” or “emergency” category late Thursday night.
Delhi Air Quality Live Updates:
1: 55 pm: The Central Pollution Control Board has declared a public health emergency in Delhi as well as in nearby areas as the region clogs because of the rising air pollution levels since Diwali.
2: 10 pm: At around 11 am on Friday, the overall air quality index (AQI) was around 530.
2: 20 pm: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was seen giving masks to school children
2: 50 pm: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “Delhi has turned into a gas chamber due to smoke from crop burning in neighbouring states
It is very imp that we protect ourselves from this toxic air. Through pvt & govt schools, we have started distributing 50 lakh masks today
Schools shut till Nov 5
I urge all Delhiites to use them whenever needed”
3: 05 pm: On 1st Nov 2019, the Environment Pollution (Prevention) and Control Authority (EPCA) gave directions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in order to ban all construction activities completely in the national capital along with the adjoining regions of Faridabad, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Noida, and Greater Noida through the morning of November 5, 2019.
3: 30 pm: In case if the air quality remains to be in the “severe plus” category for more than 48 hours, then various emergency measures such as odd-even car rationing scheme, banning entry of trucks, construction activities as well shutting down schools would be taken into consideration under the Graded Response Action Plan.
3: 50 pm: “Due to the rising level of pollution, the government has decided that all the schools in Delhi will remain closed till 5 November,” Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted.
4: 00 pm: “Air quality in Delhi and NCR has deteriorated further as of last night and is now at the severe + level. We have to take this as a public health emergency as air pollution is now hazardous and will have adverse health impacts on all, but particularly our children,” EPCA Chairman Bhure Lal said in a letter to chief secretaries of Delhi and neighbouring states.
