Central Pollution Control Board

Delhi Traffic Police tightens vehicle checks amid Grap 4 restrictions

Delhi Traffic Police has ramped up vehicle checks in the national capital and the bordering areas after the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage IV was implemented here to curb the worsening air quality, officials said on Tuesday. The Centre's air quality panel for Delhi-NCR on Monday invoked stringent measures under Stage IV of the air pollution control plan as the region's air quality turned "severe" due to unfavourable meteorological conditions. In addition to enhancing checks within the city, Delhi Police held an inter-state coordination meeting with Haryana and UP Police to discuss strategies for managing the flow of vehicles into the city, a police officer said. The vehicles approaching Delhi whose destination is not here, would be diverted via the Eastern/Western Peripheral Expressway in order to reduce congestion in the city, the officer said. "To further strengthen enforcement, Delhi Police plans to install joint pickets at key border areas. These pickets will monitor

Delhi's air quality deteriorates amid cold wave; likely to remain 'poor'

Delhi's AQI dipped despite persisting winds of 8-10 kmph on Wednesday evening due to 'cold wave' conditions

National Pollution Control Day 2024: Know history, significance, and more

National Pollution Control Day is an occasion to remember those who lost their lives in the Bhopal Gas tragedy on 2nd December 1984. Here's all you need to know

NGT imposes Rs 20 lakh fine on MCD for dumping garbage near school

The green body was hearing the issue of the students of Akhil Bhartiya Netrahin Sangh school facing challenges and health risks

Delhiites continue to breathe in 'very poor' air as the AQI rises to 325

However, some areas reported an AQI of below 300 classifying the air quality as 'poor'

Over 6K pollution complaints in Delhi since Oct 2021; 38% still unresolved

Rajasthan registered 77 complaints, 51 of which are unresolved

Cloud seeding not feasible in Delhi, says CPCB amid air pollution crisis

The Central Pollution Control Board has said the feasibility of cloud seeding as an emergency measure to battle winter pollution in northern India will be limited, citing insufficient moisture and reliance on pre-existing clouds, an RTI query has revealed. The CPCB shared its observations on a cloud seeding proposal by IIT Kanpur, which aims to combat Delhi's severe air pollution crisis through artificial rainfall. The information was shared in response to a Right to Information query filed by activist Amit Gupta on October 24. According to the CPCB, cloud seeding faces significant challenges due to insufficient moisture in the air and the dependency on pre-existing clouds influenced by Western Disturbances. "As per IIT Kanpur (proponent), the mandatory requirement of successful cloud seeding is the availability of appropriate clouds with enough moisture content (clouds having 50 per cent or higher moisture content). "In northern India, winter clouds are often influenced by Wester

Delhi air pollution: Centre announces staggered work timings for employees

The Centre on Thursday announced staggered working timings for its employees in view of the severe air pollution in Delhi, according to an order issued by the Union personnel ministry. Employees have also been asked to pool vehicles and use public transport to minimise vehicular pollution. "These measures may be adopted by ministries/departments/organisations as per their functional requirements ensuring that it should not have an adverse impact on efficiency and productivity in any manner," the order read. Given the severe-plus air pollution levels in Delhi, various ministries, departments and organisations of the central government are advised to adopt staggered timing in respect of offices located in the Delhi-National Capital Region, it said. The order said offices can be open from 9 am to 5.30 pm and 10 am to 6.30 pm. "The officers/staff using personal vehicles should be encouraged to pool vehicles and to use public transport to minimise the vehicular pollution," it added. A

At 122, harmful AQI days in 2024 six more than last year

From January 1 to November 18, there were 122 days when the air quality index (AQI) exceeded 201, compared to 116 days during the same period in 2023

SC to hear plea seeking measures to curb air pollution in Delhi on Nov 18

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a plea seeking enforcement of measures to curb air pollution in the national capital. Delhi woke up to toxic air conditions on Sunday as the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded in the "severe" category. The AQI stood at 429 at 9 am, according to the 'Sameer App', which provides hourly updates from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The 24-hour average AQI was recorded at 417 at 4 pm on Saturday. As per the cause list of November 18 uploaded on the apex court website, a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih is slated to hear the plea. On November 14, the top court had agreed to urgently list the plea after it was told that Delhi should not become the most polluted city in the world due to the rising pollution. The bench had agreed to list the matter after senior advocate Aparajita Singh, who has been assisting the apex court as an amicus curiae in the matter, requested for urgent hearing looking at the ..

'White Category' industries no longer need State Pollution Board approval

These permissions are known officially as 'Consent To Establish' (CTE) and 'Consent To Operate' (CTO), consent to establish is granted by the state pollution control board

Delhi air pollution: BJP demands closure of schools up to Class 5

The BJP on Wednesday demanded the Delhi government order the closure of all schools up to Class five in view of the worsening air pollution situation as it hit out at the AAP over the issue, claiming the city has become a gas chamber. The national capital experienced the season's first dense fog on Wednesday, with "very poor" air quality. The air quality index (AQI) was 366 according to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) real-time data at 9 am. Interacting with reporters, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said the AAP government in Delhi should shut down all private and government schools up to class five to protect the children from the hazardous air quality. The Delhi government has "completely failed" to control pollution, Sachdeva said and claimed the PM 2.5 levels have crossed 400, and PM 10 levels have crossed 1,000. "Delhi has become a gas chamber where everyone is coughing and complaining of trouble in breathing," he said. Children and the elderly are the big

Authorities in Delhi fine owners of polluting vehicles, building sites

Environmental compensation payments have been ordered for 597 sites, while 56 have been told to close

Brief relief fades as Delhi's AQI climbs to 'hazardous' levels post-Diwali

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data shows that certain areas of Delhi are grappling with hazardous pollution levels

CPCB targets plastic waste breaches, tightens PWM compliance in tenders

The renewed focus on surveillance and compliance, along with the enforcement of strict labelling and certification standards, is aimed at improving the effectiveness of PWM regulations

SC slams centre for ineffective 'toothless' environmental laws, penalties

The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Centre for making the environment protection law toothless, and said the provision under the CAQM Act which deals with penalty for stubble burning was not being implemented. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka, Ahsanuddin Amanulllah and Augustine George Masih said the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act of 2021 (CAQM Act) was enacted without creating required machinery for implementing the provision to curb air pollution. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, said section 15 of the CAQM Act, which deals with penalty for stubble burning, will be implemented effectively as regulations for it will be issued in 10 days. She submitted that an adjudicating officer will be appointed and all necessary actions will be taken to enforce the law effectively. Bhati pointed out that the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued notices to senior ...

Delhi's air quality turns 'poor', GRAP stage 1 restrictions implemented

Restrictions under the first stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) came into force in the national capital on Tuesday as the air quality remained in the 'poor' category for the third consecutive day. Stage 1 of the GRAP, a set of winter-specific anti-pollution measures, focuses on controlling pollution through dust mitigation at construction sites, proper waste management, and regular road cleaning. It mandates strict checks on polluting vehicles, better traffic management and emission controls in industries, power plants and brick kilns. GRAP Stage 1 also bans the open burning of waste, limits the use of diesel generators and prohibits the use of coal or firewood in eateries. Air quality in Delhi has continued to remain in the 'poor' category, with a reading of 207 on Tuesday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The city's AQI dipped to the 'poor' zone after Dussehra. The minimum temperature on Tuesday was recorded at 17.4 degrees Celsius, two notch

After SC rap, CAQM forms 'flying squads' to curb stubble burning by farmers

As part of this strategy, flying squads from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have been deployed to hotspot districts in both states from October 1 to November 30, 2024

E-waste conundrum: Draft guidelines point to impractical over-regulation

India is one of the world's largest producers of e-waste in South Asia, generating 1.6 million tonnes of discarded material, almost 67 per cent of this is unprocessed

Soon, tyre companies to pay for flouting waste management guidelines

The Central Pollution Control Board has asked all producers to fulfil their assigned EPR obligations for fiscal years 2023 and 2024