New Delhi, November 5: The Air Quality Index (AQI) plunged further in the national capital region with less than two days remaining for Diwali. Late on Monday, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) categorised aht air quality as "severe", nearing the "severe plus emergency" level. If unchecked, it could lead to hazardous respiratory issues in the short-run, experts said.

The overall AQI was measured at 418, with semi-industrial areas like Okhla clocking upto 700. With temperature dipping and no breeze movement, the air quality could deteriorate further in the next couple of days. Schools Are Preparing Students for Worse Conditions Post Diwali.

On Sunday, residents of Delhi had breathed the cleanest air in three weeks, according to Central Pollution Control Board data. The air quality turned ‘Severe’ for the first time this season on Oct. 30.

Also, PM2.5 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) and PM10 concentrations spiked to ‘Severe-plus emergency’ category at 361 and 500, respectively, according to the Central Pollution Control Board data.

Officials attributed the sudden deterioration to a change in wind direction, now blowing from the northwestern region towards Delhi, bringing with it dust and smoke from stubble burning in neighbouring states.

An official with the System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research said intensified stubble burning is contributing nearly 24 percent of the air pollution in the national capital.

The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, too, said the increase in PM2.5 concentration is due to a change in the wind direction and biomass burning.

The Delhi government launched an aggressive 10-day “Clean Air Campaign” from Nov. 1 to monitor and report polluting activities and ordered halting of construction activities and regulating vehicular traffic.

Civil construction has been suspended in Delhi and surrounding areas of the National Capital Region. All stone crushers and hot mix plants generating dust pollution have also been closed.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee directed the transport department and the traffic police to intensify their drive against polluting vehicles until Nov. 10.

Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday said no leniency would be shown to those who are violating pollution-control norms. He warned that legal actions were being initiated against people violating regulations.

Also Read: Supreme Court Bans 15-Year-Old Petrol, 10-Year-Old Diesel Vehicles In Delhi-NCR

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal blamed the stubble burning in Punjab as the main reason behind the current cycle of air pollution in Delhi. On Sunday, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh termed his claim “nonsense”.

But NASA registered a large number of fire counts in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Sirsa and other areas of Punjab and Haryana. Also, the enforcement data provided in response to an RTI query by activist Deepak Juneja showed that despite the Delhi government deregistering 40 lakh old vehicles to curb air pollution, only 3,196 vehicles have been impounded, which is less than 1 percent of the total.

Two agencies—Delhi traffic police and transport department of the Delhi government—are responsible for enforcing the ban on 15-year old petrol and 10-year old diesel vehicles imposed by the National Green Tribunal.

(With PTI inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 06, 2018 12:08 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).