In view of the serious problem of pollution in Delhi, an important decision has been taken regarding outdoor physical sports activities. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed the state governments of Delhi and NCR to immediately stop all outdoor physical sports activities. Also warned that continuing such events amidst poor air quality can pose a serious threat to the health of children.

CAQM has written a letter to the Chief Secretaries of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh on Saturday (December 13), saying that it is concerned that despite the instructions given earlier as per the Supreme Court order of November 19, some schools and institutions of Delhi-NCR are still conducting outdoor sports activities.

Instructions to create awareness about health risks

“Continuing outdoor physical activities during poor air quality is against the spirit and intent of the Supreme Court’s observations and the Commission’s directions,” CAQM said. In the letter, the commission asked to postpone the physical sports competitions to be held in November and December. It directed the NCR state governments and the Delhi government to ensure strict and immediate compliance of the earlier instructions, issue necessary instructions to all schools, educational institutions, sports bodies and local authorities to close outdoor physical sports activities and sensitize schools and parents about the health risks involved.

Instructions to closely monitor and take appropriate action

CAQM also asked the authorities to closely monitor compliance at the field level and take appropriate action in case of any violations. On Saturday, the panel took the strictest action under its air pollution control plan, GRAP, which includes banning all construction and demolition activities in Delhi-NCR following a sharp rise in pollution levels amid extreme weather conditions.

What are the restrictions under GRAP Stage IV?

Under Stage IV of GRAP, entry of trucks in Delhi has been stopped, except those carrying essential goods or providing essential services. However, movement of CNG, LNG, electric and BS-VI diesel trucks has been allowed. There is a ban on plying of registered diesel heavy goods vehicles (BS-IV and below) in Delhi, with exemption again only for essential services.

Ban on construction and demolition activities also

All construction and demolition activities are banned, including public projects like highways, roads, flyovers, power transmission lines, pipelines and telecom, which are usually allowed in the lower stages. Schools in Delhi and the worst-affected NCR districts have been asked to run classes not only for primary students but also for higher classes (VI to IX and XI) in hybrid mode (online and physical), with students given the option to attend online classes wherever possible.

Under Stage IV, state governments have been asked to consider taking additional emergency measures such as closing colleges and educational institutions, shutting down non-essential commercial activities and even imposing odd-even rules for vehicles if the pollution situation worsens.

Restrictions under GRAP apply in Delhi in winter

It is noteworthy that during winter, restrictions are imposed in the Delhi-NCR region under GRAP, which divides the air quality into four stages – Stage I (poor, AQI 201-300), Stage II (very poor, AQI 301-400), Stage III (severe, AQI 401-450), and Stage IV (very severe, AQI above 450). In winter, due to bad weather conditions, smoke from vehicles, stubble burning, firecrackers and other local sources of pollution, the air quality in Delhi-NCR reaches dangerous levels.

This year is the first time in the last 8 years in the capital Delhi that from January to October, not a single day has recorded pollution level in the severe category of 400 or more. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) of the Government of India released the data today (31 October) and gave the information. From January to October this year, not even a single day was AQI 400 or more.

Whereas at the same time last year and 2023, AQI was 400 or more on 3 days in the first 10 months. For one day in 2022, 6 days in 2021, 2 days in 2020, 9 days in 2019 and 7 days in 2018, AQI was at the level of 400 or more from January to October.

Delhi’s air is the best this time in eight years

Similarly, according to CAQM, if we leave aside the year of Covid, when there were restrictions under lockdown, then from January to October this year, the best pollution level was recorded in eight years. This year, the 10-month average AQI was recorded at 170, whereas last year at the same time, the 10-month average pollution level in Delhi was 184. Apart from AQI, the average PM 2.5 level in Delhi this year was recorded at 72 µg/m3 and this is also the lowest in 8 years except the year 2020.

The weather changes in Delhi between September and October.

Apart from this, CAQM informed that between September and October, the weather changes in Delhi-NCR and the strong winds carrying moisture of monsoon start weakening. Also, dry and slow winds start blowing in their place. In such weather, there is less movement in the air, due to which smoke and dust cannot spread and pollution in the air increases.

Concrete steps are being taken to stop pollution

CAQM also said that it is working with various departments and agencies to improve the air quality in Delhi-NCR and steps are being taken to prevent, control and reduce pollution. Also, these efforts will be further intensified in the coming days so that the air of Delhi-NCR can be made cleaner.

Delhi vehicle policy: The Rekha Gupta government of Delhi has given great relief to the people of Delhi. The Delhi government has given a big statement by stopping the decision banning old trains at the moment. The government has written a letter to CAQM and informed that due to technical challenges, the decision to impose fuel ban on vehicles of older age is not possible for the moment.

With this, the Delhi government has withdrawn the decision not to fuel the old vehicles. This rule was implemented for petrol vehicles more than 15 years old and diesel vehicles more than 10 years old.

Dedication
Delhi’s Environment Minister Manjinder Sirsa informed during the press conference that it is difficult to implement such fuel ban at the moment. The government is working on seizing pollution -causing and poor maintenance vehicles. The government does not want those who take care of their old vehicles.

CAQM gave this order
This order issued by the Air Quality Management Commission (CAQM) was to ban pollution -causing vehicles in Delhi. It is being noted that in the winter month, Delhi is covered with a sheet of smoke, as well as the air quality is poor throughout the year.

This order of CAQM will affect more than 60 lakh vehicles. These include cars, two -wheelers, trucks and vintage automobiles.

Complaint of problem in camera and speaker
The government has complained that AnPR cameras installed in many places are not working properly. There are many technical problems in these cameras, which is making it difficult to surveillance. Old trains are going to be identified with these cameras.

Apart from this, the government has also stated that loudspeakers are also bad and no sound is not coming properly, due to which the necessary information is not reaching the people.

Many difficulties are coming technically
The biggest problem is that data from different areas of Delhi-NCR are not connected, ie there is a lack of data coordination. Due to this, pollution control and monitoring work is not being done properly. The Delhi government has demanded to solve these problems soon.

Delhi high court: According to the new rule, which came into effect from 1 July in Delhi, 10 -year -old diesel and 15 year old petrol trains are not allowed to run on the road. Recognizing this rule, the petrol pump owners were not giving oil to these vehicles. However, he was still fined, due to which he filed a petition in the court. Now the court has issued a notice to the Delhi Government and the Commission for Air Quality Management Committee and sought a reply.

In the Delhi High Court, a bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna, while hearing a petition filed by the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association, has issued a notice to both the parties and listed the case for the next hearing in September.

Petitioners argued in Delhi HC

In fact, from July 1, the instructions for not giving petrol and diesel to the old vehicles in Delhi have been implemented by the Commission for Air Quality Management. For this, the Transport Department, Police and Traffic Department of Delhi Government have made a comprehensive strategy.

However, the petitioners have supported the intention behind these instructions, saying that they are opposed that such rules are being implemented on petrol pump owners, whose enforcement has no legal rights.

Does the rules not apply to petrol pump operators?

The lawyer appearing on behalf of the petitioners in Delhi HC argued that action is being taken against petrol pump operators under Section 192 of the Motor Vehicle Act, while this section does not apply to them. He said that petrol pump dealers are being given the responsibility of implementing the instructions being implemented by the Delhi government, which is out of their jurisdiction.

In such a situation, even if there is an unknowable lapse, they are being punished. It has also been said in the petition that about three thousand vehicles come to a petrol pump daily to fill the oil and sometimes oil is given from several units simultaneously, in which case the possibility of mistake cannot be ruled out.

Is it wrong to implement law on petrol pump owners?

According to the application filed in Delhi HC, petrol pump operators are private institutions that work on contract with oil marketing companies. Having the responsibility of implementing them the law is a violation of the principles of rule of law. However, the petition also acknowledged that strict steps are necessary for pollution control in the NCR area.

According to government officials, CNG -powered overseas vehicles are currently exempted from this rule. In such a situation, it will be very important to see what answer the government files on the petition filed in the court. In 2018, the Supreme Court banned diesel more than 10 years old and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in Delhi. At the same time, the 2014 order of NGT also prohibits parking in public places of vehicles older than 15 years.