NEW DELHI: The Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed the 300 mark in Delhi-NCR followed by a layer of smog on the morning of Wednesday, October 21. According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the air quality in Delhi-NCR deteriorated due to change in wind direction and decrease in wind speed. A slight improvement in air quality was witnessed on Tuesday, October 20, caused by a favourable wind speed.
The Supreme Court-mandated Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority on Monday, October 21, requested the Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to be prepared to close down the thermal plants which do not satisfy the standards legislated in 2015.
Gopal Rai, Minister for Employment, Development, Labour, General Administration and Irrigation in Government of Delhi, said that Delhi government will deploy 2,500 environment marshals all over the city to spread awareness about the newly initiated campaign, ‘Red Light On, Gaadi Off’ to reduce pollution.