Delhi’s air quality took a turn for the worse on Monday, with areas like Dwarka, Mundka and Najafgarh recording a maximum AQI of 500 in the afternoon.People complained of itchy and watery eyes as a dense layer of smog continued to envelop the national capital. The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 484, the worst this season, at 8 am on Monday.
By 2 pm, the AQI worsened further and it was recorded at 491, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Data from 37 out of 40 monitoring stations revealed that four stations ā Dwarka Sector 8, Najafgarh, Nehru Nagar and Mundka ā reported AQI levels at the maximum of 500, according to the SAMEER app, which provides hourly updates on the National AQI.
“Everyone should avoid outdoor activities as much as possible and use masks to reduce the effects of air pollution if they must go out,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court questioned the Delhi government over delay in implementation of stricter anti-pollution measures under GRAP-4 and said it will not allow scaling down of the preventive measures without its prior permission.
It told the state government that the court wants to know what steps it has taken to curb the alarming rise of pollution level.
“We won’t allow scaling down of preventive measures under stage 4 even if AQI goes below 450. Stage 4 will continue till court permits,” a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George said, adding it will hear the matter in detail at the end of the day’s work.