The Supreme Court asked the Centre on Friday to put in place a pollution coding mechanism with a graded response system to tackle New Delhi’s growing foul air. The order came after the top court approved the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) “graded response action plan” that outlines measures based on air quality — moderate to poor, very poor, severe, and severe-plus or emergency. The board, which the top court had pulled up for failing to make a roadmap to reduce air pollution, said severe and very poor air quality are common during winter: November to February. The air quality index is measured on the basis of PM2.5 and PM10 in the atmosphere, which are tiny particles of dust that can cause grave respiratory disorder and damage the lungs. The graded response fixes responsibility on the agency that has to enforce the measure.

Source: Hindustan Times December 02, 2016 15:33 UTC