Petrol, Diesel Cars, Bikes Banned In New Delhi! Only CNG, Electric Vehicles Allowed

In an effort to tackle the emergency situation created by rampant air pollution in the city, only CNG and electric vehicles will be allowed entry into Delhi.

The order is to be followed from 27 November till 3 December.

In this period, entry of any other kind of vehicles will remain banned except for trucks providing essential services.

Schools To Reopen Soon

State environment minister Gopal Rai said that schools, colleges, and educational institutions in the national capital will also remain shut till 29 November.

A ‘pollution lockdown’ was imposed on 13 November under which schools were closed for physical classes for a week and had to be conducted online.

Govt Offices To Reopen

All government offices in the city will open from 29 November and the staff have been advised to use public transport.

Special buses will be deployed for them in areas where most employees come from such as Nimri Colony, Gulabi Bagh and Timarpur.

These developments come after the Supreme Court said that the air quality crisis demands a scientific study.

SC Orders Scientific Study

It also suggested advanced measures to be taken based on statistical models on wind patterns before the situation worsens.

Culprits suggested to be behind the air quality crisis are change in wind direction, stubble burning and bursting of firecrackers.

A model must be prepared for different seasons since Delhi does not observe the same weather throughout the year.

A scientific analysis must be made on these seasons, causes of pollution and expected wind direction.

AQI Categories

All these measures have to be taken in advance to ensure that the situation does not deteriorate and that citizens do not suffer due to poor or severe air quality.

AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.

Slight Improvement

The court advised restrictions to be eased only when the pollution level becomes 100.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) improved from the “very poor” to the “poor” category thanks to strong surface winds that swept through the city on Wednesday.

But the figure remains at 280.