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The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the government’s air quality panel for the national capital region (NCR) of Delhi, late on Monday night invoked restrictions under stage four of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), revising it after a few hours from announcing curbs under stage three. The air quality deteriorated rapidly with the potential to turn into the ‘severe’ category due to unfavourable meteorological conditions, prompting the commission to swing into action.
Delhi’s 24-hour average air quality index (AQI), recorded at 4 pm daily, was 379 on Monday and reached 426 at 10 am on Tuesday. The Supreme Court, on December 5, had allowed relaxations of restrictions under GRAP IV (invoked from November 18) only after air quality improved.
The Union Environment Ministry issued a statement around 7 pm on Monday announcing GRAP III restrictions with immediate effect, and after 11 pm, released another statement saying GRAP IV curbs were placed with immediate effect.
- Also read: Delhi-NCR faces ‘severe’ air quality as GRAP Stage III restrictions take effect
The AQI was on an increasing trend throughout Monday, starting at 351 at 9 am, reaching 366 by 1 pm, and further rising to 379 by 4 pm, prompting CAQM to invoke GRAP III. However, as the AQI rose to 399 by 9 pm and breached the 400 mark soon after, the air quality panel announced the invocation of curbs under GRAP IV.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board data at 9 pm on Monday, as many as 23 out of 37 spots, from where data was available, had an AQI of more than 400, with Anand Vihar recording the worst at 460, followed by 446 in Rohini, 444 at Wazirpur, 442 at Jahangirpuri and Vivek Vihar, and 441 at Punjabi Bagh.
But at 9 am on Tuesday, further deterioration in AQI was noticed as 13 monitoring stations recorded an AQI of over 450, with the highest being 471 at two places – Bawana and Jahangirpuri. Only six spots had an AQI between 300 and 400, while the NSIT campus in Dwarka had an AQI below 300.
The GRAP for Delhi-NCR is divided into four stages of air quality – Stage 1 for “poor” Air Quality Index (AQI) ranging between 201 and 300, Stage 2 for “very poor” AQI of 301-400, Stage 3 for “severe” AQI of 401-450, and Stage 4 for “severe plus” AQI above 450.
Forecasts from the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology have indicated that the air quality may fluctuate between the higher end of ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ category in the coming days owing to continued adverse meteorological conditions, the government said in a statement.
Under GRAP IV curbs, Delhi and State governments in the NCR are expected to discontinue physical classes in all schools for classes VI–IX and class XI. The recent Supreme Court order made it mandatory, which was earlier optional. However, the governments will have to decide if they can stop physical classes now, as half-yearly examinations are ongoing at several places.
The GRAP IV curbs also stated that NCR State governments and the Delhi government have to take a decision on allowing public, municipal, and private offices to operate with 50 per cent strength, with the rest working from home.
The Central government may take an appropriate decision on permitting work from home for employees in Central government offices. The CAQM has also asked states to stop the entry of truck traffic into Delhi (except for trucks carrying essential commodities or providing essential services). However, all LNG, CNG, electric, and BS-VI diesel trucks are permitted to enter Delhi.
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Published on December 17, 2024
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