The Supreme Court-appointed EPCA lifted the ban on the entry of heavy vehicles into Delhi on Tuesday even as a thick haze engulfed the city with the air quality remaining in the "severe" category with the authorities saying that rains in some parts of the national capital has made the air heavier and increased pollution.

As the overall air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 411, which falls in the "severe" category, according to data by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) said heavy vehicles would now ply in the city on normal timings between 11 pm and 6 am.

According to official data, 21 areas in Delhi recorded 'severe' air quality and it was 'very poor' in 12 areas. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe".

Light rains in some parts of the national capital led a decline in temperatures. The maximum temperature was recorded at 29.4 degrees Celsius, a notch above normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 14.2 degrees Celsius, also a notch above the season's average, a meteorological department official said.

"After isolated showers in parts of Delhi, lots of moisture is introduced in the air to make it heavy and increased the holding capacity which increased the pollution level," the SAFAR said in a report.

It also said stubble burning incidents have reduced significantly and now the winds are not blowing from these areas so its impact on Delhi's air quality would be marginal.

A new study said that about 89 per cent of people in Delhi feel sickness or discomfort due to bad air quality as most of the people believe motor vehicles and tree cutting to be major sources of pollution.

EPCA chairperson Bhure Lal said the restriction imposed by it on heavy vehicles had been lifted.

On Monday, the EPCA allowed entry of only those vehicles into the city which were stranded for the previous four days at Delhi borders, anticipating the situation getting out of hand with the owners of over a 1,000 trucks getting "restive".

The EPCA had asserted on Monday that these stranded trucks would be exempt from paying toll or Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) from 11 pm on November 12 to 7 am on November 13. The body had said by relaxing the payment of toll-ECC, the trucks can move without any halt and this will reduce congestion and thereby pollution.

Over 2,200 vehicles were ordered to turn back from Delhi's borders during restriction on entry of heavy vehicles in the national capital from November 8 to November 12 in the wake of high pollution levels in the city, a senior traffic police official said.

The Supreme Court-appointed EPCA lifted the ban on the entry of heavy vehicles into Delhi on Tuesday even as a thick haze engulfed the city with the air quality remaining in the "severe" category with the authorities saying that rains in some parts of the national capital has made the air heavier and increased pollution.

The Supreme Court-appointed EPCA lifted the ban on the entry of heavy vehicles into Delhi on Tuesday even as a thick haze engulfed the city with the air quality remaining in the "severe" category with the authorities saying that rains in some parts of the national capital has made the air heavier and increased pollution. As the overall air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 411, which falls in the "severe" category, according to data by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) said heavy vehicles would now ply in the city on normal timings between 11 pm and 6 am. According to official data, 21 areas in Delhi recorded 'severe' air quality and it was 'very poor' in 12 areas. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe". Light rains in some parts of the national capital led a decline in temperatures. The maximum temperature was recorded at 29.4 degrees Celsius, a notch above normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 14.2 degrees Celsius, also a notch above the season's average, a meteorological department official said. "After isolated showers in parts of Delhi, lots of moisture is introduced in the air to make it heavy and increased the holding capacity which increased the pollution level," the SAFAR said in a report. It also said stubble burning incidents have reduced significantly and now the winds are not blowing from these areas so its impact on Delhi's air quality would be marginal. A new study said that about 89 per cent of people in Delhi feel sickness or discomfort due to bad air quality as most of the people believe motor vehicles and tree cutting to be major sources of pollution. EPCA chairperson Bhure Lal said the restriction imposed by it on heavy vehicles had been lifted. On Monday, the EPCA allowed entry of only those vehicles into the city which were stranded for the previous four days at Delhi borders, anticipating the situation getting out of hand with the owners of over a 1,000 trucks getting "restive". The EPCA had asserted on Monday that these stranded trucks would be exempt from paying toll or Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) from 11 pm on November 12 to 7 am on November 13. The body had said by relaxing the payment of toll-ECC, the trucks can move without any halt and this will reduce congestion and thereby pollution. Over 2,200 vehicles were ordered to turn back from Delhi's borders during restriction on entry of heavy vehicles in the national capital from November 8 to November 12 in the wake of high pollution levels in the city, a senior traffic police official said.

Delhi's air quality remains in severe category, EPCA lifts ban on heavy vehicles entry

The Supreme Court-appointed EPCA on Monday warned that if the air quality in Delhi continues to deteriorate then it would impose a complete ban on the use of non-CNG private as well as commercial vehicles.

Environment Protection Control Authority (EPCA) Chairman Bhure Lal, in a letter to chief secretary of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh said the vehicle sticker has not been implemented and without this it is not possible to distinguish between diesel and other fuelled vehicles.

"In the scenario that the weather remains adverse and that the current situation of air quality remains in 'very poor' or 'severe category' then there is no option but to direct for a complete stop on the use of private and commercial vehicles other than those plying on CNG so that pollution can be contained," Lal said in the letter.

"However, CNG vehicles have stickers and also it is understood that all public transport vehicles are fuelled by CNG. In this situation, these vehicles will be available for movement," he said.

This is the second time Lal has raised the issue of pollution by vehicles. 
On October 31, he had proposed banning all private vehicles but this time he went ahead and proposed ban on all non-CNG private and commercial vehicles.

The comments came amid deteriorating air quality in the national capital which is battling alarming levels of pollution due to local emissions land regional factors.

Presently, Delhi's air quality is oscillating between very poor and severe category.

The Supreme Court-appointed EPCA on Monday warned that if the air quality in Delhi continues to deteriorate then it would impose a complete ban on the use of non-CNG private as well as commercial vehicles.

The Supreme Court-appointed EPCA on Monday warned that if the air quality in Delhi continues to deteriorate then it would impose a complete ban on the use of non-CNG private as well as commercial vehicles. Environment Protection Control Authority (EPCA) Chairman Bhure Lal, in a letter to chief secretary of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh said the vehicle sticker has not been implemented and without this it is not possible to distinguish between diesel and other fuelled vehicles. "In the scenario that the weather remains adverse and that the current situation of air quality remains in 'very poor' or 'severe category' then there is no option but to direct for a complete stop on the use of private and commercial vehicles other than those plying on CNG so that pollution can be contained," Lal said in the letter. "However, CNG vehicles have stickers and also it is understood that all public transport vehicles are fuelled by CNG. In this situation, these vehicles will be available for movement," he said. This is the second time Lal has raised the issue of pollution by vehicles. On October 31, he had proposed banning all private vehicles but this time he went ahead and proposed ban on all non-CNG private and commercial vehicles. The comments came amid deteriorating air quality in the national capital which is battling alarming levels of pollution due to local emissions land regional factors. Presently, Delhi's air quality is oscillating between very poor and severe category.

Complete ban on use of non-CNG private, commercial vehicles if air quality deteriorates: EPCA

The Supreme Court Monday prohibited the plying of 15-year-old petrol and 10-year-old diesel vehicles in the national capital region and directed the transport departments concerned to announce that such vehicles would be impounded if found plying in Delhi-NCR. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
Terming as "very critical" and "horrible" the prevailing pollution situation in Delhi-NCR region, the apex court directed that a list of 15-year-old petrol and 10-year-old diesel vehicles be published on the website of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and transport department. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
A bench of Justices Madan B Lokur, S Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta said that advertisement on this should also be published in the newspapers. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
The bench directed the CPCB to immediately create a social media account on which citizens could lodge their complaint directly about pollution on which appropriate action could be taken by the authorities concerned. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
It permitted the court-mandated Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) to take pre-emptive steps under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) without strict adherence to pollution stages delineated in the plan. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
GRAP is aimed at tackling air pollution in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas and it is designed to take urgent remedial action when air quality deteriorates. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
The apex court passed these directions on a note placed before it by advocate Aparajita Singh, assisting the court as an amicus curiae in the air pollution matter, seeking urgent directions to correct the prevailing situation of pollution. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; 
Earlier, the National Green Tribunal had also banned the plying of 15-year-old petrol and 10-year-old diesel vehicles in the Delhi-NCR. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
The apex court had earlier rejected a plea against the NGT's order banning plying of 15-year-old petrol and 10-year-old diesel vehicles on Delhi roads. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
During the hearing on Monday, the bench referred to media reports that people should not go on morning walk due to the high levels of pollution. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
"Have you gone to old Delhi railway station? Poor people there have to work to earn their livelihood. The kind of exertion they undergo is much more than those walking in the morning at Lodhi Gardens," the bench told Additional Solicitor General (ASG) A N S Nadkarni, appearing for the Centre. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
"They are doing heavy duty manual work. You cannot tell them that you stop your work because it is unsafe for you to work in the morning. This is a very critical situation," the bench said, adding, "It is horrible". 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
The bench told Nadkarni that authorities would have to do their work properly and find out solutions to avoid such situation as prevailing in Delhi. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
Nadkarni told the court that he supports the suggestion given by the amicus about creating a social media account so that citizens could lodge complaints about pollution. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
The amicus referred to a note prepared by EPCA chairman which contained details and photographs of garbage burning in several parts of Delhi, including Bawana, Narela, Dwarka, Nangloi and Mundka. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
The bench, after perusing the photographs, termed it as "terrible state of affairs" and asked the Delhi government and Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (DSIIDC) to file their affidavits in this regard within two days. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
The court has posted the matter for hearing on November 1. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
Singh told the bench that citizens in the national capital are facing health emergency due to pollution and currently the air quality was under "very poor" level. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
She said that Badarpur power plant and coal-based power plants have been closed in Delhi and EPCA has given directions which are meant to deal with "severe" air quality level. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
"The problem is always of implementation (of directions passed by the court). Implementation is at such a dismal pace. They (authorities) have got a good excuse in crop burning today. But in Delhi, people will continue to drive their luxury diesel vehicles. Farmers who are in distress are forced to buy farm equipment but people in Delhi will continue to maintain luxury," she added. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
She further said that only farmers cannot be blamed for pollution due to crop burning as the Ministry of Earth Sciences has said that pollution load from transport was around 41 per cent. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
She referred to the issue of garbage burning, including that of plastics, in several parts of Delhi and told the bench that every year, the same issue was raised before the court. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
Singh said that social media account should be created on Facebook or Twitter so that people could lodge complaints about pollution. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
"Mere talking is not enough. When pollution is a serious level, they (authorities) talk but after that, they go on sleeping," the amicus said, adding that the use of colour-coded stickers which would indicate the nature of fuel being used in the vehicles have not been implemented yet. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
The counsel appearing for the transport department of Delhi government said no 15-year-old petrol and 10-year-old diesel vehicles should ply on roads and no fitness certificate was issued to such vehicles beyond this period. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
The amicus told the bench that EPCA wanted liberty from the court to take pre-emptive steps under the GRAP without waiting for the time indicated in the plan. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
The top court is seized of matters in which several issues related to air pollution in the Delhi-NCR have been raised.

The Supreme Court Monday prohibited the plying of 15-year-old petrol and 10-year-old diesel vehicles in the national capital region and directed the transport departments concerned to announce that such vehicles would be impounded if found plying in Delhi-NCR.

The Supreme Court Monday prohibited the plying of 15-year-old petrol and 10-year-old diesel vehicles in the national capital region and directed the transport departments concerned to announce that such vehicles would be impounded if found plying in Delhi-NCR. Terming as "very critical" and "horrible" the prevailing pollution situation in Delhi-NCR region, the apex court directed that a list of 15-year-old petrol and 10-year-old diesel vehicles be published on the website of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and transport department. A bench of Justices Madan B Lokur, S Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta said that advertisement on this should also be published in the newspapers. The bench directed the CPCB to immediately create a social media account on which citizens could lodge their complaint directly about pollution on which appropriate action could be taken by the authorities concerned. It permitted the court-mandated Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) to take pre-emptive steps under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) without strict adherence to pollution stages delineated in the plan. GRAP is aimed at tackling air pollution in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas and it is designed to take urgent remedial action when air quality deteriorates. The apex court passed these directions on a note placed before it by advocate Aparajita Singh, assisting the court as an amicus curiae in the air pollution matter, seeking urgent directions to correct the prevailing situation of pollution. Earlier, the National Green Tribunal had also banned the plying of 15-year-old petrol and 10-year-old diesel vehicles in the Delhi-NCR. The apex court had earlier rejected a plea against the NGT's order banning plying of 15-year-old petrol and 10-year-old diesel vehicles on Delhi roads. During the hearing on Monday, the bench referred to media reports that people should not go on morning walk due to the high levels of pollution. "Have you gone to old Delhi railway station? Poor people there have to work to earn their livelihood. The kind of exertion they undergo is much more than those walking in the morning at Lodhi Gardens," the bench told Additional Solicitor General (ASG) A N S Nadkarni, appearing for the Centre. "They are doing heavy duty manual work. You cannot tell them that you stop your work because it is unsafe for you to work in the morning. This is a very critical situation," the bench said, adding, "It is horrible". The bench told Nadkarni that authorities would have to do their work properly and find out solutions to avoid such situation as prevailing in Delhi. Nadkarni told the court that he supports the suggestion given by the amicus about creating a social media account so that citizens could lodge complaints about pollution. The amicus referred to a note prepared by EPCA chairman which contained details and photographs of garbage burning in several parts of Delhi, including Bawana, Narela, Dwarka, Nangloi and Mundka. The bench, after perusing the photographs, termed it as "terrible state of affairs" and asked the Delhi government and Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (DSIIDC) to file their affidavits in this regard within two days. The court has posted the matter for hearing on November 1. Singh told the bench that citizens in the national capital are facing health emergency due to pollution and currently the air quality was under "very poor" level. She said that Badarpur power plant and coal-based power plants have been closed in Delhi and EPCA has given directions which are meant to deal with "severe" air quality level. "The problem is always of implementation (of directions passed by the court). Implementation is at such a dismal pace. They (authorities) have got a good excuse in crop burning today. But in Delhi, people will continue to drive their luxury diesel vehicles. Farmers who are in distress are forced to buy farm equipment but people in Delhi will continue to maintain luxury," she added. She further said that only farmers cannot be blamed for pollution due to crop burning as the Ministry of Earth Sciences has said that pollution load from transport was around 41 per cent. She referred to the issue of garbage burning, including that of plastics, in several parts of Delhi and told the bench that every year, the same issue was raised before the court. Singh said that social media account should be created on Facebook or Twitter so that people could lodge complaints about pollution. "Mere talking is not enough. When pollution is a serious level, they (authorities) talk but after that, they go on sleeping," the amicus said, adding that the use of colour-coded stickers which would indicate the nature of fuel being used in the vehicles have not been implemented yet. The counsel appearing for the transport department of Delhi government said no 15-year-old petrol and 10-year-old diesel vehicles should ply on roads and no fitness certificate was issued to such vehicles beyond this period. The amicus told the bench that EPCA wanted liberty from the court to take pre-emptive steps under the GRAP without waiting for the time indicated in the plan. The top court is seized of matters in which several issues related to air pollution in the Delhi-NCR have been raised.

Supreme Court bans 15-year-old petrol, 10-year-old diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR

Delhi deputy chief minister <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/introduce-odd-even-scheme-for-private-cars-add-more-buses-epca-to-delhi-government-23678">Manish Sisodia said today primary schools will remain </a>closed on Wednesday as pollution levels in the city reached dangerous levels on Tuesday.

Sisodia said if the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-cant-breath-again-heavy-smog-hit-delhi-this-morning-23650">pollution worsened then the odd-even scheme for private </a>vehicles will be back in the national capital.

&quot;Construction work will be stopped in Delhi,&quot; the deputy chief minister said.

Earlier in the day, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had asked Sisodia to shut down schools as the pollution levels rose alarmingly in the capital today.

A thick blanket of smog engulfed Delhi and its adjoining areas on Tuesday morning, with visibility dropping drastically. Many flights and trains were delayed.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) declared it a public health emergency and suggested schools to be to shut down and cancellation of the upcoming half marathon saying consequences of poor quality for runners could be &quot;disastrous&quot;.

The US embassy website said that levels of the fine pollutants, known as PM2.5 which are most harmful to health, reached 703 which was well over double the threshold of 300 that authorities term as &quot;hazardous&quot;.

Sisodia said if the pollution worsened then odd-even scheme for private vehicles will be back in the national capital.

Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said today primary schools will remain closed on Wednesday as pollution levels in the city reached dangerous levels on Tuesday. Sisodia said if the pollution worsened then the odd-even scheme for private vehicles will be back in the national capital. "Construction work will be stopped in Delhi," the deputy chief minister said. Earlier in the day, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had asked Sisodia to shut down schools as the pollution levels rose alarmingly in the capital today. A thick blanket of smog engulfed Delhi and its adjoining areas on Tuesday morning, with visibility dropping drastically. Many flights and trains were delayed. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) declared it a public health emergency and suggested schools to be to shut down and cancellation of the upcoming half marathon saying consequences of poor quality for runners could be "disastrous". The US embassy website said that levels of the fine pollutants, known as PM2.5 which are most harmful to health, reached 703 which was well over double the threshold of 300 that authorities term as "hazardous".

Pollution in the capital: Primary schools to be closed in Delhi, says Manish Sisodia

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