As Delhi grapples with a steep decline in air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Thursday, November 2, implemented Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the capital city. The AQI in Delhi stood at 402 at 5 pm, with the CAQM noting that pollution levels are expected to increase further due to unfavourable meteorological and climatic conditions.

Under GRAP Stage-III, a ban has been imposed on non-essential construction activities in Delhi, given the proximity of pollution levels to the “severe” category. Additionally, the entry of light commercial vehicles and diesel-guzzling trucks has been prohibited within the city, aligning with efforts to curb vehicular emissions, a major contributor to air pollution.

"Keeping in view the prevailing trend of air quality, in an effort to prevent further deterioration of the air quality, the CAQM decides that ALL actions as envisaged under stage III of the GRAP - 'Severe' Air Quality (DELHI AQI ranging between 401-450) be implemented in right earnest by all the agencies concerned in the NCR, with immediate effect, in addition to the stage I and II actions already in force," the Commission for Air Quality Management said in a notification.

Notably, the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi surged to 392, categorising it as "very poor." the city recorded a maximum temperature of 30.2 degrees Celsius on the day in question. The AQI scale ranges from 0-500, with scores between 401-500 signifying "severe" air quality conditions.

The areas where the AQI breached the 400-mark included Anand Vihar (450), Bawana (452), Burari Crossing (408), Dwarka Sector 8 (445), Jahangirpuri (433), Mundka (460), NSIT Dwarka (406), Najafgarh (414), Narela (433), Nehru Nagar (400), New Moti Bagh (423), Okhla Phase 2 (415), Patparganj (412), Punjabi Bagh (445), R K Puram (417), Rohini (454), Shadipur (407) and Wazirpur (435). According to the weather department, the national capital would witness shallow fog in the next three days.

In the broader National Capital Region (NCR), the CAQM has also taken measures to combat pollution. Stone crushers have been ordered to halt their operations, and all mining and associated activities have been suspended. Furthermore, a strict ban on construction and demolition work has been implemented throughout the NCR, with specific exemptions for certain project categories.

State governments in the NCR, including the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD), have been tasked with enforcing restrictions on the use of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel light motor vehicles (LMVs) in Delhi and in neighbouring districts such as Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar.

Additionally, the state governments in the NCR and GNCTD have the authority to make decisions regarding the discontinuation of physical classes in schools for children up to Class V, enabling a transition to online education. These actions are part of GRAP Stage-III, a vital component of the Centre's air pollution control plan designed for the winter season.

GRAP classifies actions into four stages:

Stage I — Poor (AQI 201-300).

Stage II — Very Poor (AQI 301-400).

Stage III — Severe (AQI 401-450).

Stage IV — Severe Plus (AQI >450).

Stage III of GRAP includes a comprehensive ban on construction and demolition activities.

(Edited by : Shoma Bhattacharjee)