Updates: Artificial rain to combat smog, a ban on app-based taxis, and “severe” air pollution in Delhi

Updates on Delhi’s Air Pollution: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reports that on Thursday morning, the city’s citizens awoke to yet another day of noxious air, with the air quality remaining in the “severe” category.

The Delhi administration said on Wednesday that the December winter vacation for all schools has been rescheduled and will now take place from November 9 to November 18, due to the deteriorating quality of the air.

Chief secretary Sanjeev Kaushal announced on Wednesday that the Haryana government has taken strict action against stubble burning, registering 72 FIRs, imposed fines totaling more than ₹32 lakh, and issuing 1,256 challans against violators.

With the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) reading 426 on Wednesday, Delhi’s air quality fell into the severe category once more. Open burning of trash, dumping of construction waste, and the use of tandoors in restaurants are among the main causes of the city’s rising air pollution, according to Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi.

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Current information on air pollution in Delhi NCR:

• In Anand Vihar, the air quality index (AQI) was measured at 432; in RK Puram, it was 453; in Punjabi Bagh, it was 444; and on Thursday morning, the ITO recorded 441.
• At six in the morning, Ghaziabad’s average AQI was 443. The level of PM2.5, a type of small particulate matter that can enter the respiratory system deeply and cause health issues, was seven to eight times higher than the government-mandated safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic meter.
• On Thursday morning, Sector-51, Gurugram, saw another decline in air quality to the “severe” category, with an AQI of 444.
• In an attempt to improve the quality of the air, Delhi, the most polluted metropolis in the world, is planning to create rain for the first time in the last week. The Supreme Court will hear a proposal on Friday that was created by specialists on creating rain, according to Delhi’s environment minister Gopal Rai. Rain has already been created in China, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The environmental department of Delhi announced its intention to seed clouds, a method of creating precipitation that involves the use of chemicals like silver iodine. We plan to try cloud seeding for artificial rain somewhere around November 20.
• Rai stated that Delhi will adopt the odd-even car rationing plan following a Supreme Court ruling that evaluates the program’s efficacy and gives an order.

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• According to Rai, the transportation agency has received instructions to outlaw app-based taxis “in compliance with the Supreme Court’s rulings.”Senior officials stated that a comprehensive directive would clarify whether the restriction will take effect this week or wait when the odd-even car rationing program is in place.
• The Haryana government reports that 90% of the state’s paddy harvesting is over, and the administration is actively stepping up efforts to prevent stubble burning.
• Manish Verma, the district magistrate of Gautam Buddh Nagar, instructed government officials to take criminal action against anyone found in violation of NGT regulations in Noida and Greater Noida and urged builders and industries to step up anti-pollution measures at their locations. During a meeting with representatives of industries and builders along with government departments, Verma underlined that all development works in the district is forbidden for the time being save for hospitals and the Noida International Airport near Jewar, according to an official release.