New Delhi: With the worsening air quality index (AQI), the national capital on Monday (January 9, 2023) imposed a temporary ban on plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi. The ban on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles will kick in from Tuesday as the air quality has deteriorated to the “severe” category.

“As per directions as provided under Stage III of the revised GRAP and under Section 115 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, it is hereby ordered that there shall be restrictions to ply BS-III, Petrol and BS-IV, Diesel LMVs (4-wheelers) in NCT of Delhi, with immediate effect, till dated 12.01.2023 or till downward revision in GRAP stage, whichever is earlier (except for vehicles deployed in emergency services, police vehicles & govt. Vehicles used for enforcement),” the order said.

“If any BS-III, Petrol and BS-IV, Diesel LMV (4-wheeler) found plying on roads will be prosecuted under section 194(1) of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 which provides for a fine of Rs 20,000,” the order said.

A senior Transport department official said that the ban would be in place till Friday.

“The ban on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles will kick in from Tuesday since the air quality has deteriorated to the severe category. We are monitoring the situation along with the Environment department. For now, the ban is likely to be in place till Friday. If the air quality improves, the ban could be lifted before Friday,” the senior Transport department official was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Delhi’s air quality worsened to the severe category on Monday owning to unfavourable meteorological conditions — clam winds and low temperatures — prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to direct all NCR states to implement anti-pollution curbs with greater vigour.

The national capital’s 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) stood at 434 at 4 pm on Monday, worsening from 371 on Sunday.

An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 500 “severe”

CAQM holds urgent review meeting to combat sudden rise in Delhi AQI

In view of a sudden rise in air pollution, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) held an urgent review meeting with officials from Delhi and NCR states, including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, and directed them to implement the provisions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the field with “greater vigour to prevent further deterioration of air quality”.

The need to deploy inspection teams in adequate numbers to ensure GRAP implementation was also reiterated.