The air quality in Delhi has shown a significant improvement, prompting authorities to revoke the harshest restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). This decision follows directions from the Supreme Court and aims to balance public health concerns with economic considerations.
Supreme Court Mandate and GRAP Stages
- The Supreme Court directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to implement stricter measures based on the Air Quality Index (AQI).
- Stage-III actions are triggered when the AQI crosses 350 (considered “severe”).
- Stage-IV, even stricter measures, are enforced when the AQI exceeds 400 (“severe plus”).
Recent Air Quality Fluctuations and Response:
Delhi’s AQI peaked at 478 on December 24th but witnessed a steady decline, reaching 361 by 6 PM. Considering this improvement and favorable weather forecasts, the CAQM Sub-Committee decided to:
- Revoke Stage-IV restrictions across the National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect.
- Maintain Stage-III measures, which include restrictions on construction activities and non-essential diesel vehicles.
- Strictly enforce Stage-I and II measures (focusing on industrial emissions and pollution control).
While restrictions ease, authorities urge citizens to follow guidelines under the remaining GRAP stages. The CAQM Sub-Committee will closely monitor air quality and weather forecasts to adjust measures as needed.
