Emergency pollution plan starts in Delhi. Here are things that are banned from today

As air quality remains 'poor' in Delhi, an emergency action plan has been rolled out today in the capital city to fight ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ air pollution level that will include category-wise steps like ban on diesel power generator sets and construction activity in Delhi, impounding of polluting vehicles, mechanised sweeping of roads or even roll out of odd-even scheme if condition worsens.

Delhi had adopted an emergency plan called Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) last year under which stringent actions are implemented based on the air quality of the city.

Here is everything you should know about the emergency plan and how it may affect you:

*Starting today, measures that have been implemented to improve air quality in Delhi include ban on garbage burning, mechanised sweeping of roads, impounding of polluting vehicles and deploying traffic police for smooth flow of traffic at vulnerable points.

*Currently, the air quality in Delhi is 'poor' and only moderate measures are put in place, but authorities have predicted that it would reach the 'very poor' category in the next couple of days.

* If the air quality gets worsen and moves into 'very poor' and 'severe category', other stringent measures like ban on construction activities, hike in parking fees, roll out of odd-even vehicle scheme will be implemented.

* If air quality lies in moderate to poor category- measures like stopping garbage burning in landfills and other places, and enforcing all pollution control regulations in brick kilns and industries would be implemented.

* If it falls to severe level, steps like increasing frequency of mechanised cleaning of roads, sprinkling of water on roads and identifying road stretches with high dust generation.

*Under severe plus emergency category, entry of trucks into Delhi will be banned, construction activities will be stopped and a task force will be appointed to take decision on any additional steps, including shutting of schools.

*Satellite images from the NASA have showed rampant stubble burning activity in Punjab and Haryana.

*Burning of crop residue in Punjab and Haryana has increased significantly over the past 10 days .

*Burning of paddy straw every year during October and November and wheat straw during April in Punjab and Haryana are the major contributors of air pollution in Delhi-NCR, as the smoke travels towards the national capital. In Delhi, it mixes with the fog and creates a toxic smoggy winter every year.

(Inputs from PTI)