Delhi pollution: ₹5.85 crore fine imposed on Day 1 of anti-pollution restrictions under GRAP Stage 3

Delhi pollution: Penalties amounting to ₹5.85 crore were imposed on the first day of anti-pollution measures under the third stage of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for NCR. GRAP stage 3 guidelines were imposed across Delhi earlier this week to deal with the worsening air quality.

As the restrictions under the GRAP stage 3 came into force on Friday, authorities intensified action against those violating norms with teams of traffic police, transport department and others penalising violators, news agency PTI reported.

₹5.85 crore fine

According to the report, the Delhi Traffic Police issued around 550 challans on Friday for violation of a ban on the plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles. A fine of over ₹1 crore was imposed on the first day of restrictions under the third stage of GRAP.

Violation of this rule invites a penalty of ₹20,000. Diesel and petrol inter-state buses, except for BS VI diesel, from the NCR cities to Delhi are also banned.

The police also cracked down on vehicles not having Pollution Under Control Certificates (PUCC). It issued fines to 4,855 vehicles in this regard, totaling ₹4.85 crore on Friday.

A fine of ₹10,000 is imposed on motorists for not having a valid pollution under control (PUC) certificate. These challans get released from courts.

Delhi air quality still ‘severe’

Delhi's air quality's continued to be in the "severe" category on Saturday, with the air quality index recorded at 429, as per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). On Friday, the AQI level was 396, news agency PTI reported.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the "severe" category air poses risks to healthy individuals and severely impacts those with existing health conditions.

The GRAP for Delhi-NCR is divided into four stages of air quality: Stage 1 for "poor" air quality (AQI ranging from 201 to 300), Stage 2 for "very poor" air quality (AQI from 301 to 400), Stage 3 for "severe" air quality (AQI from 401 to 450), and Stage 4 for "severe plus" air quality (AQI above 450).

Out of Delhi's 39 monitoring stations, data shared by the CPCB showed that all except for Sri Aurobindo Marg reported air quality in the "severe" category, with AQI levels above 400.

Following Delhi, Jind in Haryana recorded the second-worst air quality with a reading of 394, while Bahadurgarh, also in the neighbouring state, ranked third with a reading of 388.

According to the Centre's Decision Support System for Air Quality Management, stubble burning was the main contributor to Delhi's air pollution on Thursday, accounting for 37 per cent of the total pollution. Vehicular emissions contributed approximately 12 per cent to the overall pollution, it said.

Measures to mitigate Delhi air pollution

As part of efforts to combat pollution, Rai announced that a total of 84 enforcement teams from the Transport Department and 280 teams from the Traffic Police have been mobilised to ensure strict adherence to the ban.

Additionally, there is a stringent ban on construction and demolition activities, suspension of mining-related activities, and daily water sprinkling on major roads. City schools for classes up to 5 will shift to online mode after the weekend.

Meanwhile, old age homes across the city are reportedly intensifying measures to protect the elderly which include strict restrictions on outdoor activities during peak pollution hours, mandatory mask use, and oxygen cylinders on standby for emergencies.

General Bhupendra Singh, Chairman of Aashirwad Old Age Home, said, "We do not allow anyone to step outside the premises due to the toxic air quality. The elderly, being the worst affected group, are strictly prohibited from venturing out during peak pollution hours, especially in the morning and evening."

"If they must go out for medical appointments, they are instructed to minimise outdoor time and wear masks for protection," he added.

Rajeshwari, a caregiver at the Sai Sahara old age home highlighted the additional precautions being taken. "We are focusing on maintaining a healthy diet for the residents and have restricted outdoor activities, including morning walks, due to the severe air quality," she said.

(With inputs from PTI)