EPCA shuts industries in Delhi's pollution hotspots, bans construction activities till Wednesday

New Delhi: The Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) on Monday banned industrial activities in pollution hotspots and construction work across Delhi-NCR till Wednesday in view the national capital's 'severe' air quality.

Delhi is facing its highest pollution level since Diwali. The city's air quality remained in the 'severe' category for the third consecutive day on Monday as the wind speed and other meteorological factors remained "highly unfavourable" for dispersion of pollutants. Authorities have advised people to minimise outdoor activities and avoid use of private vehicles. Industries located in hotspot industrial areas of Wazirpur, Mundka, Narela, Bawana, Sahibabad and Faridabad will remain closed until Wednesday, EPCA Chairperson Bhure Lal said in a letter to Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Dev.

The EPCA has also banned all construction activities in Delhi, Faridabad, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Noida till Wednesday. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee said the ban comes into force from Monday itself and it is sending letters to industries and construction authorities to immediately halt the activities. The EPCA has directed the traffic police to deploy special teams and ensure congestion-free traffic flow particularly in identified high traffic corridors. "Concerned police department to strictly ensure that non-destined heavy duty vehicles travel through eastern and western peripheral expressways," the EPCA said.

The concerned agencies have also been asked to ensure strict action against illegal industries, intensify ground action and make all efforts to control polluting activities, particularly waste burning. All these recommendations were made by the Central Pollution Control Board-led task force. On Monday, 32 areas of Delhi recorded 'severe' air quality while it was 'very poor' in five areas, according to the CPCB. In NCR, Noida recorded the worst air quality with an AQI of 464. Faridabad and Ghaziabad also recorded 'severe' air quality, data showed. The overall PM2.5 level -- fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometer -- was recorded at 369 and the PM10 level at 533 here, the CPCB said.

Delhi's air quality turned 'severe' on Saturday. The national capital recorded its second highest pollution level of the year on Sunday with an AQI of 450. According to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), the air quality is likely to improve on Tuesday, but will remain in the upper end of the 'very poor to severe' category. "The wind speed and ventilation index are highly unfavourable for dispersion of pollutants," it said. Ventilation index is the speed at which pollutants can get dispersed. A ventilation index lower than 6000 sqm/second with average wind speed less than 10 kmph is unfavourable for dispersion of pollutants. The index was 4500 sqm/second on Monday, the IITM said.