00:00Diwali week has barely begun and Delhi is already gasping for its breath.
00:04The pollution nightmare is back.
00:07And just look at the numbers.
00:08Let's start with Vazirpur today, which recorded an AQI of 424.
00:12Jahangir Puli followed with about 417, while Vivek Vihar stands at 415.
00:18Punjabi Bhak not very far behind, 398.
00:21Rohini is 397.
00:23Mundka is about 376.
00:25Even ITO at 349.
00:28These are not isolated pockets.
00:30From industrial areas to residential neighbourhoods, from busy city centres,
00:34toxic air is now spreading across the national capital.
00:39And remember, Diwali is still ahead.
00:43Crackers are still ahead.
00:45Every year, Delhi finds itself trapped in the same cycle.
00:48Pollution rises, restrictions are announced, firecrackers bans are debated
00:52and emergency measures come into focus.
00:55And yet, we land at these numbers again.
00:58And yet again, eight years of our lives are going to be stripped.
01:03Yet again.
01:09And talking about emergency measures, the capital's new pollution action plan began yesterday
01:13and today marks the second day of the implementation, the first working day, in fact, the first Monday
01:18of that winter action plan, which will remain into force until the 28th of February.
01:23Now, what exactly is it?
01:25Comes at this point, it comes at a particularly sensitive time.
01:28Diwali week has begun.
01:29Festive shopping is underway.
01:31And traffic movement across the capital is expected to remain heavy.
01:34First, let's talk about restrictions.
01:37No PUC, no fuel rule.
01:39Delhi, without any vehicle in Delhi, without a valid pollution under control certificate,
01:43will not be allowed to refuel, will not be given any fuel by any of the fuel stations.
01:49Second, no BS-6 vehicles, and this is a big one, no BS-6 vehicles coming from outside Delhi
01:55face restrictions on entering the capital.
01:58This is particularly important during the festive rush, remember, when people from neighbouring
02:02NCR cities, from Noida, from Ghaziabad, from Merat, from other places on the other side
02:07of the Haryana border, from Gurgaon and the rest of them, and Faridabad are trying to
02:11get inside as well.
02:13NCR cities travelling and, you know, vehicles from there travelling to Delhi for shopping
02:19and other activities.
02:20If they are BS-6, they will be restricted.
02:23There are stringent checks happening at the border.
02:25Third, construction dust comes under sharp surveillance.
02:28AI-enabled cameras have been monitored, have been, you know, deployed and are monitoring
02:33construction sites to identify dust-related violations and strengthen enforcement.
02:38And fourth, the government is emphasising on 50% work-from-home arrangements for reduced
02:43daily commuter traffic and ease of pressure on Delhi's roads.
02:46And finally, there is a push towards public transport as well.
02:49But the real test is not just in what the scheme actually says.
02:54The real test is on what is actually implemented.
02:58Ask yourself, look around, has your office really gone for 50% work-from-home?
03:03Ask yourself, are people, those with BS-6 vehicles are still on the road?
03:08Ask yourself, has this really deterred people from coming out and, you know, using their
03:13cars?
03:13With festive shopping, office commutes, interstate travel adding to the road congestion, how effective
03:18really are these implementations?
03:20Are these restrictions really?
03:22From fuel stations to Delhi's entry points, construction sites to corporate offices, multiple
03:26agencies will have to work together.
03:29But is this really happening at the moment?
03:31The plan is in motion.
03:33It is day two.
03:34Now Delhi will be watching for results.
03:36Can these measures make a difference to the capital's worsening air quality this winter?
03:41Or will it be another plan on paper?
