Even as Stage-IV restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) under ‘Severe+’ category (above 450 AQI) are in force in Delhi and adjoining areas, the air quality index (AQI) improved further to 365, which falls under ‘very poor’ category (301-400 AQI), at 7 p.m. Thursday. The AQI was 408 at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

The Commission for Air Quality Management’s (CAQM) announcement on implementing GRAP IV came on the night of November 17 when Delhi’s daily average AQI rose to 457 at 7 p.m. from 441 at 4 p.m.. Several pollution control measures, including shifting of classes to online mode and banning truck entry were put in place from 8 a.m. on November 18. However, some schools in the adjoining districts (of other States) of Delhi had not shifted to online mode.

The CAQM had attracted the Supreme Court’s ire for delaying the implementation of Stages 3 and 4 of the GRAP.

In a late evening release, the CAQM on Wednesday revised the GRAP guidelines, mandating the closure of schools in Delhi and NCR districts (Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar) under Stages 3 and 4 of the plan. Earlier, the decision to implement these measures was left to the discretion of the State governments.

The air pollution watchdog also has mandated that under Stage 3 the State governments are required to stagger the timings of public offices and municipal bodies in Delhi and the aforementioned four districts. However, for other NCR districts, the decision on office timings remains at the discretion of the respective State governments, according to the order.

The Supreme Court had also directed the CAQM to adopt stricter measures under Stages 3 and 4, ensuring that implementation is no longer left to the discretion of local authorities.

Jahangirpuri records maximum AQI

At 7 p.m. Thursday, out of 39 spots in Delhi being monitored by the IMD Jahangirpuri recorded the maximum AQI at 429 whereas the lowest was 264 at Lodi Road, according to data of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The AQI (at 8 p.m.) in Gurugram (Teri gram) was 309, Faridabad (sector 30) 263, Ghaziabad (Loni) 411 and Gautam Buddh Nagar (sector 62) 306, according to CPCB data.

The CAQM has classified the air quality under four stages: Stage 1 - ‘poor’ (AQI 201-300), Stage 2 - ‘very poor’ (AQI 301-400), Stage 3 - ‘severe’ (AQI 401-450) and Stage 4 - ‘severe plus’ (AQI above 450) and restrictions have been placed accordingly .

Published on November 21, 2024