Highlights: As Delhi air quality improves, green panel allows construction

The National Green Tribunal tells Delhi and neighbouring states to file status report in two weeks.

Delhi air quality improved marginally on Friday but scientists warned that it may deteriorate in the coming days.

MLAs Kapil Misra and Manjinder Singh Sirsa put anti-pollution masks on the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and his followers at Gyarah Murti in New Delhi on Thursday. (HT Photo)

The National Green Tribunal will take up the Arvind Kejriwal’s review petition on the odd-even vehicle rationing plan, which exempts women drivers and two-wheelers.

The Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Control and Prevention) Authority (EPCA) rolled back the ban on entry of trucks into Delhi and fourfold hike on parking fees.

Here are the highlights:

2pm: Sprinkling 75,000 litres of water for nearly an hour from one of the tallest buildings in the city, Vikas Minar, failed to bring down pollution levels at ITO, a congested and polluted office hub in the heart of the national capital.

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12.35pm: NGT directs Delhi and neighbouring states to file status report within two weeks.

12.20pm: Sprinkling of water will continue in Delhi, to be implemented in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh: NGT.

12.05pm: Prohibitory order regarding industries, burning of crops shall continue.

11.55am: We’ll meet MEA and discuss measures which were taken by other countries facing similar problem: Ambassador of Dominican Republic to India Frank Hans Dannenberg Castellanos on meeting Ministry of External Affairs today over poor air quality in Delhi.

11.05am: National Green Tribunal allows construction activities in the national capital, asks for preventive measures to be taken in order to control air pollution.

11am: Ban on entry of trucks lifted but should be properly regulated, says National Green Tribunal.

8.35am: The Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 344, which was a very minor improvement from Thursday’s 348 but still remained in the ‘very poor’ category.

8.30am: The sky is likely to remain clear over the weekend. There is also no prediction of rain, Met officials said.

8.10am: Forty trains delayed, 13 rescheduled and six cancelled at New Delhi Railway Station