Delhi Pollution: Construction Works To Resume As Air Quality Monitoring Panel Relaxes Curbs

The Center on Tuesday issued an order to revoke restrictions imposed under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR).

CAQM orders removal of GRAP Stage-III curbs in Delhi-NCR with immediate effect ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: The Center on Tuesday revoked restrictions, including the ban on construction and demolition activities, under stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan with immediate effect in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR).

 

The decision comes in response to an improvement in air quality after several parts of the national capital witnessed light rains on Monday and Tuesday.

With the withdrawal of GRAP Stage-III, construction-demolition project sites in Delhi, industries can resume operation, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) informed.

As AQI improves, the CAQM decides to revoke the Actions under stage Ill of the Graded Response Action plan in Delhi-NCR. pic.twitter.com/9OVOuvFpfB

— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2023

CAQM, a statutory body responsible for formulating strategies to combat pollution in the region, met on Tuesday in view of the significant improvement in the overall air quality of Delhi-NCR, reported PTI

The air quality forecasts by the India Meteorological Department/Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology do not indicate the average air quality of Delhi to move to ‘severe’ category in the coming days for which forecast is available, the CAQM said.

"It was observed that AQI of Delhi has improved from the levels of 395 recorded on November 27 at 4:00 p.m and has been recorded as 312 today (Tuesday) about 83 AQI points below the threshold for invoking the GRAP Stage-III actions (Delhi AQI 401-450) and preventive/mitigative/restrictive actions under all Stages up to Stage-III are underway,” read the order.

“There is a likelihood of the AQI remaining in the ‘very poor’ category in the next few days. The Sub-Committee, accordingly, hereby decides to revoke the order, issued on November 2, for actions under Stage-III of the GRAP with immediate effect," it further read, reported PTI.

The Centre's pollution control panel had invoked the Stage III restrictions on November 2, directing a halt on non-essential construction work, stone crushing, and mining in Delhi-NCR.

GRAP-4, which comprises the highest level of anti-pollution measures, is required to be introduced when the air quality index (AQI) crosses the 450 (severe) mark, as per the norms set by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

The city's 24-hour average AQI, recorded at 4 pm every day, improved from 395 on Monday to 312 on Tuesday.