As the air quality level deteriorated in the national capital, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has enforced Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi. The curbs will come into force from Monday 8 am, the centre's panel on Delhi-NCR air quality.


The panel on air quality issued the order as Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) worsened, reaching 441 at 4 pm and rising to 457 by 7 pm. 


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Delhi Chief Minister Atishi later said that with the imposition of GRAP-4 from tomorrow, the physical classes shall be discontinued for all students, apart from Class 10 and 12. The schools will hold online classes, until further orders, she said.





Under GRAP Stage 4, there will be a ban on diesel-run medium, heavy goods vehicles registered in Delhi (BS-IV or below), except those carrying essentials. Moreover, non-essential light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi will also be prohibited, except for EVs and CNG and BS-VI diesel ones.


Construction activities, including building of highways, roads, flyovers, power lines, pipelines and other public projects, have also been suspended.




Meanwhile, Environment Minister Gopal Rai is scheduled to hold meeting with HoDs of all concerned departments tomorrow at 12 noon at Delhi Secretariat for effective implementation of GRAP-IV in the city.

 

The panel has also recommended that offices in the National Capital Region (NCR) work at 50 per cent capacity, with the rest working from home. "Work-from-home options may be introduced for central government employees," the panel said.



The air quality in New Delhi worsened to the 'severe plus' category with the real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeding 400 in most places in the national capital.