Delhi: As AQI improves, curbs imposed under Grap Stage III lifted

CAQM invoked Stage-III of Grap on December 30, when the AQI touched 399 on the day, however, Delhi’s AQI since then has remained below the 400 mark.

As the air quality jumped to ‘very poor’ from the ‘severe’ category, the commission for air quality management (CAQM) on Wednesday in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas revoked all measures under Stage-III implemented under the ‘severe’ category of the graded response action plan (Grap).

Delhi’s AQI on Wednesday was 343 (very poor), while it was 385 (very poor) on Tuesday. (Representative Photo)

This will allow private construction activities to resume with immediate effect across NCR, while also allowing the resumption of brick kilns and hot mix plants not operating on clean fuels, including the resumption of operations of all stone crushers and mining and its associated activities.

CAQM invoked Stage-III of Grap on December 30, when the AQI touched 399, however, Delhi’s AQI since then has remained below the 400 mark.

The commission also noted that such measures were disruptive. Delhi’s AQI on Wednesday was 343 (very poor), while it was 385 (very poor) on Tuesday.

“The AQI of Delhi has improved from the level of 399 (nearing ‘severe’ category) observed on December 30, 2022, to 343 (‘very poor’ category) recorded on Wednesday. These preventive or restrictive GRAP-III measures invoked on December 30, might have also helped the AQI levels not touch the ‘severe’ category (AQI > 400) and forecasts by the IMD also do not predict that the AQI will touch ‘severe’ in the coming days,” CAQM said in an order on Wednesday evening.

“Furthermore, as the actions under Grap are essentially emergency response and are disruptive in nature, impacting a large stratum of society, the Sub-Committee has accordingly decided to revoke the order issued dated December 30, 2022, with immediate effect,” CAQM added, stating Stage-I and Stage-II measures of Grap will however remain in place.

Forecasts by the Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi show Delhi’s AQI is likely to remain in the ‘very poor’ category till January 13.

“Delhi’s air quality is likely to improve but will remain in the ‘very poor’ category on January 5. It will again deteriorate slightly, but will still be in the ‘very poor’ category on January 6 and 7. The outlook for the subsequent six days shows Delhi’s AQI will largely remain in ‘very poor’,” EWS said.

The central pollution control board (CPCB) classifies an AQI between 0-50 as ‘good’, between 51 and 100 as ‘satisfactory’, between 101 and 200 as ‘moderate’, between 201 and 300 as ‘poor’, between 301 and 400 as ‘very poor’ and over 400 as ‘severe’.