INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: The Delhi government on Thursday established a special task force comprising six members to ensure the rigorous enforcement of
measures delineated in the Centre's air pollution control plan, GRAP, within the capital, announced environment minister Gopal Rai.The
Special Task Force (STF) in Delhi will be led by the special secretary (environment), and its members will include senior officials from the
Delhi Minister Gopal Rai appeals to people of Delhi on DiwaliRai informed reporters that the STF will collaborate with all relevant
departments engaged in implementing pollution control measures, providing a daily report to the government.Delhi pollution: No relief for
discuss the efficient implementation of anti-air pollution measures.Rai had previously criticized the relevant departments for their laxity
in implementing the air pollution control plan
He urged them to establish a monitoring mechanism to oversee the teams responsible for enforcing anti-air pollution measures.Delhi: Drone
visuals show thick haze from Anand Vihar BridgeStringent restrictions, such as a prohibition on construction activities and the entry of
polluting trucks into the capital, were implemented on November 5 under the final stage (Stage IV) of the Centre's air pollution control
plan known as the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).This move came in response to the air quality in the capital reaching "severe plus"
levels (AQI above 450).With the exception of a few days around Diwali, Delhi's air quality has oscillated between the "very poor" and
"severe" categories, primarily attributed to unfavorable meteorological conditions that impede the dispersion of pollutants.As of 3 pm on
Thursday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the capital stood at 412.The 24-hour average AQI, recorded at 4 pm daily, was 401 on Wednesday, 397
on Tuesday, 358 on Monday, 218 on Sunday, 220 on Saturday, 279 on Friday, and 437 on the preceding Thursday.Recent findings from a
collaborative project between the Delhi government and IIT-Kanpur indicated that vehicular emissions contributed to approximately 38 per
cent of the air pollution in the national capital on Wednesday
The projections suggest that this percentage is expected to increase to 40 per cent on Thursday.An official from the India Meteorological
Department (IMD) noted that calm winds and low temperatures are facilitating the accumulation of pollutants, and there is little likelihood
of relief over the next few days.With agency inputs
