In the wake of the air quality turning severely hazardous in Delhi-NCR yet again, because of the stubble burning by the farmers of Punjab and Haryana, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), has issued a notice directing the prohibition the movement of diesel four-wheelers, and trucks. BS-VI, electric and CNG vehicles, and the vehicles used in emergency and crucial services have been kept out of the prohibition. Unimportant commercial activities, construction, and demolition have also been imposed a curb on.
On Thursday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi-NCR reached the severe scale of 408. In OPDs, the daily number of patients with breathing problems has reached 70-75 from 20-25. The NCPCR has appealed to the Delhi government to shut schools down. In Noida, classes for all boards of education till the 8th standard have been suspended till 8th November, and these classes will now be held online. It has also been directed that the classes for standards 9th-12th should be conducted online as far as possible.
As per a survey conducted by Local Circle, 53% people living in Delhi-NCR have stated that the major reason behind the increase in pollution is stubble burning. Out of the 20, 000 people this survey was conducted on, 13% believed vehicles to be the major cause. 56% of them opposed the odd-even formula.
