Delhi implemented Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Friday as the city’s air quality continued to deteriorate, remaining in the “severe” category for the third consecutive day. The Air Quality Index (AQI) at 9 am recorded a reading of 411, marking another day in the “severe” range (400 to 500), according to the Sameer app.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) imposed these GRAP-III restrictions following two days of “severe” air quality, with Delhi experiencing the highest pollution levels in the nation. Delhi’s AQI had previously been in the “very poor” category for 14 consecutive days before tipping into the severe range.
GRAP’s four stages of air quality restrictions include:
- Stage I: “Poor” AQI (201-300)
- Stage II: “Very Poor” AQI (301-400)
- Stage III: “Severe” AQI (401-450)
- Stage IV: “Severe Plus” AQI (450+)
Stage III Curbs include a ban on non-essential construction and demolition activities, the closure of stone crushers, and suspension of mining operations in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). Stage IV restrictions would enforce more stringent measures, such as restricting inter-state bus entry to electric, CNG, and BS-VI diesel vehicles only, banning most construction activities, and considering online classes for young students.
Currently, 27 out of 39 air quality monitoring stations in Delhi recorded AQI levels above 400, indicating severe air pollution. Areas with the worst air quality include Alipur, Anand Vihar, Jahangirpuri, and ITO.
In addition to poor air quality, Delhi also experienced its lowest night temperature of the season, at 15.6°C, coupled with dense fog and high humidity, which reached 98% on Friday morning. Visibility was reduced to 400 meters in Safdarjung, as the city braced for further dense fog throughout the day.
For the past two days, Delhi has recorded the worst air quality levels in the country, underscoring the urgent need for heightened pollution control measures.
