Carriers of toxic air, trucks can’t enter Delhi for 3 days after Diwali

NEW DELHI: The Environment Pollution (Control and Prevention) Authority have announced a ban on entry of trucks into Delhi from November 8 to 10, an emergency measure under the Graded Response Action Plan, keeping in mind high post-Diwali pollution levels.

This was done on the recommendations of a task force led by the Central Pollution Control Board, which held a meeting to review the ambient air quality status in NCR.

“IMD informed (us) that currently air quality is in the very poor category. However, during November 8-10, the situation may worsen due to low surface winds and northwesterly winds leading to impact of stubble burning,” a CPCB official said. EPCA chairperson Bhure Lal wrote to all four NCR states, asking them to enforce the ban on entry of truck traffic into Delhi (except essential commodities) from November 8-10.

“You are requested to direct all authorities, particularly the police, to coordinate action on this, so that trucks are turned around before entering Delhi. You are also requested to put out information on this at the earliest so that transporters have notice and can plan their travel accordingly,” Lal said. The CPCB task force and, in turn EPCA, also asked authorities “to take out notices requesting people not to use diesel private cars in this period”.

The ban on the entry of trucks in Delhi was imposed for the first time from 11pm on November 9 after the pollution levels touched the “severe plus” category last year. According to GRAP implemented in Delhi, the ban on entry of truck in Delhi comes into force when PM2.5 levels cross 300 microgramme per cubic metre and PM10 levels rise over 500 microgramme per cubic metre, the severe-plus or emergency levels.

However, chaos was witnessed at the borders of Delhi and huge traffic jams were noticed at the entry points of the city. According to Delhi Police — which was recently asked by EPCA to stay prepared to implement the measure at a short notice — if the trucks are not stopped 20-30km before they enter the city, the border points are bound to get choked.

“Over 80,000 trucks used to enter the city daily. However, the eastern and western peripheral highways have also reduced the truck traffic to the city. So, the situation won’t be that chaotic this year,” a senior official said.

EPCA has also sent Delhi Police a map of 17 turnaround points, which are located right before entering the capital, for better implementation of the ban. These turnaround points are at Siwah in Panipat, Sonipat, Bahalgarh, Rohtak, Sampla, Bahadurgarh, Panchgaon and Rajiv Chowk in Gurgaon, Bawal, Badkhal, Kithwari Palwal, KMP and Ballabgarh in Haryana. In Uttar Pradesh, the points are Loni Tiraha, Bhopura Border, Seema Border and UP Gate.

Earlier, anticipating high pollution levels between November 1 and November 10, EPCA had announced shutting down of construction activities for 10 days in the Delhi-NCR region and closure of coal and biomass-based industries from November 4-10 apart from requesting people to limit exposure to the foul air in these 10 days.

“However, what is required is the participation and involvement of all of us in combating pollution, which we know is a grave health crisis. We are appealing to all citizens to join in the battle against air pollution,” it had said.