If Delhi’s pollution worsens, private cars may be off roads

As part of graded response action plan ( GRAP) against rising air pollution in Delhi, the Environment Pollution Control Authority said Tuesday that private cars will be stopped from plying if air pollution continues to worsen.

“Let’s hope the air pollution situation in Delhi doesn’t deteriorate, else we will have to stop plying of private vehicles. Only public transport will be used,” Bhure Lal, Environment Pollution Control Authority chairman, said.

The air quality in DelhiNCR worsened further Tuesday after an overnight spike in Particulate Matter ( PM). The overall Air Quality Index ( AQI) at 3 pm was 401, falling in the “severe” category, the season’s highest. This is due to stubble burning intensifying in nearby states, the authorities said. Residents were also advised to stop lighting incense sticks for puja rituals, and cautioned against any outdoor activity such as morning walks. An advisory also recommended frequent wet mopping. Amid deteriorating air quality, the Centre said Tuesday the Supreme Court’s order on firecrackers will be followed strictly in Delhi and NCR and only the sale of eco- friendly fireworks would be permitted.

However, while launching eco- friendly crackers Monday, Harsh Vardhan, the minister for environment, forest and climate change, had admitted that they would not available this Diwali.

— AFP Tourists walk in the flooded streets during a high- water alert in Venice on Monday evening. The flooding, caused by a convergence of high tides and a strong Sirocco wind, reached 156 centimetres on Monday.