Pollution havoc: AQI crosses 500 in 5 districts of UP, schools closed, diesel vehicles banned
Schools have been closed in Meerut, Hapur, Ghaziabad, Noida, and Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh due to pollution reaching dangerous levels. Hapur was the most polluted city in the state, where AQI reached 512. Diesel vehicles, construction work, and other polluting activities have been banned. The smog in Agra is so dense that the Taj Mahal is not visible from 100 meters. The administration has implemented the fourth phase of GRAP.
Arpit Shakya 
INDC Network : Uttar Pradesh : Pollution havoc: AQI crosses 500 in 5 districts of UP, schools closed, ban on diesel vehicles
Pollution havoc: Schools closed in 5 districts
The level of pollution in Uttar Pradesh has reached dangerous levels. AQI has crossed 500 in Meerut, Hapur, Ghaziabad, Noida, and Bulandshahr. In these districts, the administration has closed all schools up to 12th.
Hapur: Most polluted city
Hapur recorded an AQI of 512, making it the most polluted city in the state. Hapur DM Prerna Sharma said that under the fourth phase of GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) all construction works have been stopped. Apart from this, garbage burning and other polluting activities are also being strictly dealt with.
Noida and Ghaziabad: Ban on diesel vehicles
Noida's AQI is 492 and Ghaziabad's AQI is 471. Both the cities have banned the operation and construction of diesel vehicles. Outdoor activities have also been banned in schools.
Agra: Taj Mahal hidden in mist
AQI has reached 425 in Agra. Due to the dense fog, the Taj Mahal was not visible from a distance of 100 meters. Local people say that the pollution is causing breathing problems and eye irritation.
Bulandshahr: School closed due to poisonous air
The air quality in Bulandshahr has also become very bad. Here the AQI has reached over 400. DM CP Singh has ordered that schools till 12th will remain closed till further orders.
Meerut: The havoc of cold and fog
Meerut has been covered in dense fog since Monday evening. Visibility is almost zero due to pollution and cold. The day temperature was recorded at 21.9 degrees Celsius and 15.1 degrees Celsius at night.
Strict action under the fourth phase of GRAP
Under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), strict steps are being taken for pollution control.
4 steps of GRAP:
- AQI 201-300: Instructions on Construction Activities, Prohibition of Spraying Water on Roads, and Burning Garbage.
- AQI 301-400: Stop diesel generators, ban coal use in hotels, increase parking fees.
- AQI 401-450: Prohibition on construction works, daily cleaning of roads and sprinkling of water.
- AQI 450+: Entry of trucks is closed, factories and manufacturing activities are stopped, 50% of employees will work from home.
Special measures in Noida
55 sprinkler tankers, 104 anti-smog guns, and 12 mechanical sweeping machines have been deployed in Noida for pollution control. The administration has imposed a fine of Rs 27 lakh on 70 defaulters.
Strictness of Supreme Court in Delhi-NCR
In Delhi-NCR, the Supreme Court has ordered the closure of all schools if the AQI crosses 500. The court has warned the Center that restrictions on the fourth phase of GRAP cannot be lifted without permission.
Precautions and preventive measures
- Use morning walkers and elderly masks.
- Avoid going out in the morning and late evening.
- Avoid going to polluted areas and do breathing exercises.
