Diesel vehicles banned in Delhi as air turns hazardous

With the air in Delhi-NCR turning hazardous to health, the Commission for Air Quality Management on Thursday decided to implement measures under stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan. These include a ban on diesel vehicles, closure of industries and stopping work at construction sites.

Delhi recorded its worst air since December 26 last year with the Air Quality Index ( AQI) touching 450.

The Following measures have been introduced with immediate effect in Delhi-NCR:

*Ban on the use of four-wheeled diesel light motor vehicles in Delhi-NCR; BS-VI. Only essential and emergency services vehicles such as ambulances have been exempted.

*Ban on entry of trucks other than electric and CNG ones in Delhi; those carrying essential commodities have been exempted.

*Ban on construction and demolition works in linear public projects such as highways, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines in Delhi-NCR.

*Closure of all industries that are not running on clean fuels in NCR ordered. However, industries like milk and dairy units and those involved in manufacturing of life-saving medical equipment or devices and medicines shall, however, be exempted from these restrictions.

*States to decide on closure of schools, non-emergency commercial activities, odd-even scheme for vehicles.

*Central and state governments may decide on permitting work from home for their employees.