The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Sub-Committee has announced that Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage III will be imposed in Delhi from 8:00 AM onwards tomorrow (November 15) as the national capital continues to choke due to 'severe' air quality index.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi on Thursday morning was in the 'severe' category with a reading of 428 at 9 am. The average AQI of the past 24 hours, which is recorded at 4 PM, stood at 424.
The GRAP comprises of measures that help tackle the worsening air quality in Delhi and NCR regions by restricting activities that contribute to the increase in pollution.
The restrictions under GRAP Stage 3 include:
1. Construction and demolition would be halted completely and all non-essential mining activities will be suspended.
2. Non-electric, non-CNG, and non-BS-VI diesel interstate buses will be restricted.
3. Primary schools will move to online classes.
4. Water sprinkling on major roads would increase.
Besides this, there would be restrictions on the plying of BS-lll petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles in Delhi and the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.
The AQI on Wednesday was reported as the worst in the country, plunging into the 'severe' category for the first time this winter season.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, Environment Minister Gopal Rai attributed the worsening conditions to a combination of calm winds and a drop in temperature. He also mentioned that the Delhi government would review all current action plans and campaigns and enhance enforcement efforts to prevent pollution levels from reaching emergency thresholds.
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 (more than 450).
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