India
The heavy vehicles will be banned from entering in Delhi from Thursday 11 pm till 11 pm on Sunday. Police personnel have been deployed at all border entry points to make sure that the order is followed
With the air quality of the nation capital remaining in the ‘sever’ category even two days after Diwali, the Delhi government has banned the entry of trucks in the city.
The heavy vehicles will be banned from entering in Delhi from Thursday 11 pm till 11 pm on Sunday. Police personnel have been deployed at all border entry points to make sure that the order is followed.
Also read: Delhi pollution: Check out region-wise pictures showing severity of the toxic smog
Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) has also requested owners of private diesel cars to refrain from using their vehicle for the next three days.
"We have already banned the entry of heavy vehicles in the city and are closely monitoring the situation and if the pollution shows an increasing trend then we will impose emergency measures," an EPCA member told PTI.
How polluted was Delhi on Diwali night? What caused it? Media confused
According to Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Alok Kumar, 1,008 vehicles were allowed entry into the city from 11 pm on Thursday till 6 am on Friday because they were carrying essential goods.
As many as 445 vehicles were returned from Delhi borders, he added.
However, vehicles carrying vegetables, fruits, grains, milk, eggs, ice etc, and tankers carrying petroleum products are exempted from the ban.
In spite of a significant improvement in the air quality as compared to Thursday, the overall air quality index (AQI), according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), was recorded at 426 which still falls in the 'severe' category.
"At present, it continued to be in 'severe' but likely to improve further and will become 'very poor' by afternoon and will improve further by Saturday. The contribution of PM2.5 in PM10 which was 75 percent on Thursday (against normal 55 percent) has been reducing," the SAFAR said.
With PTI inputs
Read Exclusive COVID-19 Coronavirus News updates, at MyNation.