North-westerly winds blow away pollutants, but will respite last?

  • | Tuesday | 6th November, 2018

“It’s to be noted that to ensure compliance with GRAP, MCG had constituted teams for round-the-clock campaigns between November 1 and November 11. Gurgaon: With north-westerly winds blowing into the city, its air quality index (AQI) on Tuesday stood at 309 (very poor), a slight improvement over Monday’s 325. “Due to change in wind direction and efficient implementation of GRAP measures, the situation has improved slightly in the city. HSPCB officials, meanwhile, ascribed the improvement in AQI to implementation of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) measures. “Within six days of the campaign, police imposed a total fine of Rs 3,83,500 on 49 violators while patrolling,” went the official statement by MCG.

Gurgaon: With north-westerly winds blowing into the city, its air quality index (AQI) on Tuesday stood at 309 (very poor), a slight improvement over Monday’s 325. Skies were also clear, so visibility was favourable. Despite apprehensions in some quarters that air quality might deteriorate on Diwali, the forecast is that while situation may worsen in Delhi and other NCR cities, AQI is likely to improve in Gurgaon — remaining between 310 and 350 over the next three days. Elsewhere in the NCR, AQI stood at 338 (Delhi), 350 (Faridabad), 334 (Ghaziabad) and 347 (Noida).Speaking to TOI, officials of the Regional Weather Forecasting Centre said there was a strong movement of north-westerly surface winds that helped disperse pollutants. “That’s the reason behind the improvement in AQI, as well as visibility, which was 600m during Tuesday morning, and improved to 2,000m by evening,” an official said. HSPCB officials, meanwhile, ascribed the improvement in AQI to implementation of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) measures. “Due to change in wind direction and efficient implementation of GRAP measures, the situation has improved slightly in the city. We’re expecting a further dip in air pollution on Wednesday,” said an official of Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB).On Tuesday, MCG lauded the efforts by specialised teams to impose compliance with GRAP. “It’s to be noted that to ensure compliance with GRAP, MCG had constituted teams for round-the-clock campaigns between November 1 and November 11. “Within six days of the campaign, police imposed a total fine of Rs 3,83,500 on 49 violators while patrolling,” went the official statement by MCG. It also claimed that 13 challans of Rs 43,500 were pressed for burning garbage in the open, three challans of Rs 15,000 for dumping garbage in the open, 22 (Rs 1,70,000) for not keeping construction material covered, eight (Rs 1,40,000) for continuing construction work despite prohibition, and three challans (totalling Rs 15,000) for transporting construction debris without covers.MCG also said four mechanised sweepers are currently working at night to clean the main roads in four MCG zones. “Last night, cleaning took place between the railway station and Rajiv Chowk, between IFFCO Chowk and Sikanderpur metro station, from Bakhtawar Chowk and Star Mall near Medanta Hospital to the signal at Sector 45,” it said.MCG is also watering streets, trees and green belts with tankers to prevent dust from flying. Officials said water hosing is being carried out at many areas of the city, including Basai Chowk, Sector 37, crossing of sector 4/7, Court Road, inside Sector 15, near crossings at Krishna Chowk, Atul Kataria Chowk, Maharana Pratap Chowk, Mahaveer Chowk, Old Delhi road, Wazirabad road, Huda City Centre, Signature Tower, Vatika Chowk on SPR, and sectors 31 and 40.

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