Delhi Traffic Police will continue to take action against polluting vehicles in the national capital. Because the air quality index (AQI) remains in the severe to very poor category. On Friday, November 24, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai met government officials and agencies to discuss plans to reduce pollution levels in the national capital region. The Minister has asked all agencies and departments to ensure that polluting vehicles are strictly curbed to improve air quality in the coming days. Delhi’s AQI remained around 400 on Friday morning as thick fog blanketed most parts of the city.
The ban on BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel cars will continue as the national capital will remain under phase three of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Delhi Traffic Police will continue its drive to check polluting vehicles or vehicles without valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate. Vehicle owners found violating the rule will be fined Rs 20,000. According to recent data shared by the Delhi government, vehicles contribute about 30 per cent of the total pollution levels in the national capital.
Earlier on Friday, Gopal Rai chaired a meeting with senior officials of various departments to review Delhi’s pollution. The city transport department and Delhi Traffic Police have been asked to strictly enforce the ban on BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel vehicles. Rai had earlier said, “In the last few days, the wind speed has reduced in Delhi, due to which pollution has increased.” After the meeting, the minister said that pollution levels are expected to remain dangerous over the weekend. . The government hopes that due to rain in Delhi next week, the pollution level will reduce slightly.
However, it is a matter of relief that the Delhi government has not discussed anything about implementing the odd-even rule. The state government had earlier planned to implement the vehicle rationing system a day after Diwali. However, it shelved the plans after the Supreme Court termed the move a mere cosmetic without having much impact on pollution levels.
