Delhi Pollution: GRAP 3 Invoked as AQI Drops Amid Dense Fog

Delhi Pollution: In response to rising air pollution and falling trends in the air quality index (AQI), the Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM) in Delhi-NCR on Thursday activated the Stage III limitations under the anti-pollution Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

The Commission said that in accordance with the Supreme Court's directions to impose GRAP measures, it was invoking the Stage-3 restrictions as "AQI of Delhi which was recorded as 297 on January 8, exhibited a sharp increasing trend and has been recorded 357 at 4 pm on January 9 due to calm winds and foggy conditions".

The panel noted that in addition to this, the restrictions under Stage 1 and II of the revised GRAP shall remain in place, adding that authorities will continue to monitor and review the AQI levels in the entire Delhi and national capital region (NCR).

"Citizens are requested to strictly adhere to the citizen charter under GRAP Stage-III," the notice from CAQM read.

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Due to the ongoing cold wave conditions in the city, residents of the national capital shivered as they awoke to shallow fog on Thursday.

According to the India Meteorological Department's forecast, the minimum temperature was five degrees Celsius, while the maximum is expected to reach 21 degrees.

Guidelines for GRAP-3 requirements

The following actions are imposed under the Graded Response Action Plan's Stage III:

Educational institutions must implement hybrid learning for students up to grade V under these measures, with families having the choice to opt for online classes where feasible.

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The restrictions include a ban on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi and surrounding NCR areas, with exemptions for differently-abled individuals.

All construction activities, including highways, roads, flyovers, power lines, pipelines and other public projects, have been suspended.

Notably, the Supreme Court had in December directed the CAQM to impose Stage III measures if the AQI breached the 350 mark and Stage IV restrictions if the air quality crossed the 400 mark on any given day.

As the Delhi-NCR AQI levels showed a good trend and continued to improve, the CAQM revoked the Stage III restrictions on January 5.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good,' 51 and 100 'satisfactory,' 101 and 200 'moderate,' 201 and 300 'poor,' 301 and 400 'very poor,' and 401 and 500 'severe.'

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