Construction Activity Ban

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which reported air quality until 4 PM on October 31, the air quality index for Delhi stood at 359 which falls under the "Very Poor" category

The air quality index (AQI) peaked at 415 in the Anand Vihar area of Delhi on Monday - more than eight times the "good" level, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

Amid worsening pollution levels in Delhi, the Centre's air quality panel Saturday directed authorities in the National Capital Region to implement curbs such as a ban on construction and demolition activities under the Graded Response Action Plan stage III. The restrictions will not be applicable on essential projects concerning national security, defence, railways and metro rail among others. Mining activities will also not be allowed in the region. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) further said states might impose restrictions on the plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers in the NCR considering the worsening air quality. This direction is non-binding on authorities. The ban on construction activities is likely to affect housing projects in Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and other areas. Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index stood at 397 at 4 pm, the worst since January. It was 354 on Thursday, 271 on Wednesday, 302 on Tuesday and 312 on Monday ...

The Centre Monday told the Supreme Court that it has re-imposed the ban on construction activities in Delhi and the national capital region (NCR) in view of the worsening air quality

Rai also said the government will take a call on the reopening of schools, colleges and other educational institutions and work-from-home for government staff during a review meeting on Wednesday

On Friday, the matter came up before a bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra and Deepak Gupta

The apex court perused the affidavit filed by CPCB which said however that no construction should be permitted during 6 PM to 6 AM

The task force also asked the traffic police of Delhi and adjacent NCR towns to deploy additional manpower

On Friday, the SC imposed a blanket ban on construction activity in the state as well as in Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Chandigarh