Delhi Eases Restrictions: Diesel Trucks Permitted, Air-Quality Alert Level Lowered

Delhi’s air quality has improved today, moving from ‘severe’ to ‘very poor,’ prompting the government to lower the pollution alert level and permit the entry of diesel trucks into the national capital. At 4 pm, the air quality index stood at 317, showing an improvement from 405 on Friday. Neighboring areas like Ghaziabad (274), Gurugram (346), Greater Noida (258), Noida (285), and Faridabad (328) also reported “very poor” to “severe” air quality.

The improvement is attributed to an increase in wind speed. Consequently, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) lifted the Stage-IV curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi. However, the anti-pollution curbs under Stage I to Stage III of GRAP will remain in effect, as announced by CAQM.

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Stage IV restrictions, imposed since November 5, included a ban on all diesel four-wheelers except those complying with BS-VI emission norms. Delhi-registered diesel medium and heavy goods vehicles, excluding those for essential or emergency services, were prohibited. With the recent relaxation, trucks are now allowed to enter Delhi.

A joint project by the Delhi government and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, revealed that vehicular emissions accounted for approximately 45% of the capital’s air pollution on Friday. This is expected to decrease to 38% on Saturday. The study also identified secondary inorganic aerosols, such as sulfate and nitrate, formed in the atmosphere due to the interaction of gases and particulate pollutants from sources like power plants, refineries, and vehicles, as the second major contributor, constituting 19 to 36% of the recent air pollution in Delhi.