The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), responsible for overseeing air quality in the national capital region (NCR) of Delhi, has activated Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) due to a rapid decline in air quality, which may reach ‘severe’ levels because of unfavorable weather conditions.
On Monday, the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded at 379 by 4 p.m. and increased to 398 by 9 p.m. The Supreme Court allowed some relaxation of GRAP IV restrictions, which had been implemented starting November 18 after improvements in air quality.
Data from the Central Pollution Control Board indicated that, by 9 p.m., 23 out of 37 monitored locations reported AQI levels exceeding 400. Anand Vihar was the most polluted, with an AQI of 460, followed by Rohini at 446, Wazirpur at 444, Jahangirpuri and Vivek Vihar at 442, and Punjabi Bagh at 441.
GRAP for Delhi-NCR is structured in four stages based on air quality readings: Stage 1 addresses a “poor” AQI (201-300), Stage 2 covers “very poor” AQI (301-400), Stage 3 is classified as “severe” (401-450), and Stage 4 signifies “severe plus” with AQI levels exceeding 450.
During a review meeting, the CAQM reported that the AQI surpassed the 350 mark on Monday afternoon, worsening between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. The committee pointed out that air quality could further deteriorate due to extremely calm winds and the formation of an inversion layer that impairs pollutant dispersion.
Forecasts from the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology suggest continued adverse conditions that may cause air quality to oscillate between the upper end of ‘Very Poor’ and ‘Severe’ categories in the upcoming days.
In light of the prevailing air quality trends and to mitigate further deterioration, the Sub-Committee has decided to implement all measures outlined in Stage III of the revised GRAP. This stage classifies the Delhi AQI between 401-450 as ‘Severe’ and affects the entire NCR area. This decision adds to those already in effect under Stages I and II.
As part of the revised plan, educational institutions in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar are required to transition classes up to Grade V to a hybrid mode. Students and their families are given the option to pursue online education where it is possible.
Stage III also prohibits non-essential diesel-operated medium goods vehicles that are BS-IV or older within Delhi, as well as non-essential diesel light commercial vehicles of the same standard that are registered outside the capital.
Moreover, the state governments of Delhi and NCR have been instructed to implement staggered working hours for public offices and municipal bodies. The central government will also consider similar staggered hours for its offices in the Delhi-NCR region.
