The Centre's air quality panel on Friday directed the implementation of curbs under stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), including a ban on non-essential building and demolition activities, in response to a sudden surge in air pollution caused by foggy weather, news agency PTI reported. 


On Friday, Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index was 400, only one notch below the severe category.


During a review meeting, the GRAP Sub-Committee warned that the AQI is projected to worsen further in the following days due to unfavourable weather conditions.


It urged authorities in Delhi-NCR to immediately implement limits under Stage III of the anti-pollution plan.


According to GRAP, if the AQI is likely to reach the severe category, restricting steps under Stage III must be initiated at least three days in advance.


Stage III curbs include a ban on non-essential construction and demolition, as well as the suspension of stone crushers and mining operations in the Delhi-NCR.


Earlier on Wednesday, the Centre's air quality body requested that the restriction imposed in Delhi-NCR under stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan, which included a ban on non-essential construction and demolition activities, be lifted. The decision was made when the air quality in the Delhi-NCR improved.


A cold wave continued to grip Delhi on Friday, with the Ayanagar weather station registering the lowest minimum temperature of 1.8°C this season, despite air pollution levels remaining in the "very poor" category, according to reports. 


As dense fog smothered Delhi and the rest of north India on Thursday, affecting multiple flights and trains, Delhi has been colder than several hill stations. The fog stretched from Punjab to Bangladesh, resulting in severely limited visibility in the early morning hours, as per reports. 


Between 3.30 am and 9 am on Thursday, approximately 50 flights were delayed. At least 12 trains were delayed by at least two hours, according to a report by The Hindustan Times. 


(With Inputs From Agencies)