New Delhi, Dec 14 (EFE).— Indian authorities activated the highest level of anti-pollution measures in New Delhi this weekend after air quality deteriorated to its worst levels of the winter, with pollution exposure equivalent to smoking about 17 cigarettes a day.
The Commission for Air Quality Management on Saturday night activated Phase IV of the Gradual Response Action Plan (GRAP), the strictest stage of India’s emergency pollution protocol, according to the Ministry of Environment.
Official data from the Central Pollution Control Board showed the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeded 450 at several monitoring stations on Sunday, up from around 430 the previous day.
Under the highest alert level, the entry of older diesel trucks into the capital is banned, all construction and demolition activities—including public works—are suspended, and the use of non-essential diesel generators is restricted.
The measures also encourage increased remote work and the continuation of hybrid schooling, while essential services and public transportation are exempt.
Authorities urged residents to remain indoors as much as possible—particularly children, older people and those with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions—and recommended wearing masks when going outside.
New Delhi, a megacity of more than 30 million people, experiences recurring episodes of extreme pollution every winter, when cold, stagnant air traps emissions from vehicles, construction, nearby industries and the burning of crop residues in neighboring states.
According to the Commission for Air Quality Management, the latest deterioration has been exacerbated by high humidity and shifting wind patterns, weather conditions that hinder the dispersion of pollutants and contribute to the formation of dense smog. EFE
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