GRAP 4 revoked in Delhi-NCR as air quality improves

The Commission for Air Quality Management on Tuesday revoked Stage 4 restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan in Delhi and the National Capital Region after the air quality improved.

Stage 4 restrictions had come into force on Saturday after the air quality slipped into the “severe” category.

The commission said on Tuesday that the Air Quality Index in Delhi has shown improvement because of favourable meteorological conditions and increased wind speed. It added that the average AQI in the national capital stood at 378 on Tuesday, which is in the “very poor” category.

The commission added that air quality forecasts provided by the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology suggest that in the coming days, the AQI may remain in the current range.

Noting that Stage 4 restrictions under the GRAP were being revoked, the statement added that anti-pollution measures under Stage 1, 2 and 3 will continue to be implemented.

GRAP is a set of incremental anti-pollution measures that are triggered to prevent further worsening of air quality once it reaches a certain threshold in the Delhi-NCR region. The commission is a statutory body formed in 2020 to address pollution in the NCR and adjoining areas.

Air quality deteriorates sharply in the winter months in Delhi, which is often ranked the world’s most polluted capital. Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, vehicular pollution, along with the lighting of firecrackers during Diwali, falling temperatures, decreased wind speeds and emissions from industries and coal-fired plants contribute to the problem.

On Saturday, the air quality in the national capital had worsened to the “severe” category, reaching the 400-mark. On Sunday and Monday, the average AQI in Delhi remained above the 400-mark, before improving marginally on Tuesday.

As of 7.05 pm on Tuesday, the average AQI in Delhi was 364, which is in the “very poor” category, according to data from the Sameer application. In five of the 38 monitoring stations, it was in the “severe” category, showed the application, which provides hourly updates from the Central Pollution Control Board.

An index value between 301 and 400 indicates “very poor” air. Between 401 and 450 indicates “severe” air pollution. An AQI in the “severe” category signifies hazardous pollution levels that can pose serious risks even to healthy individuals.

The cities adjoining the capital also reported hazardous air quality levels. While Noida recorded an AQI of 364, Greater Noida 356, Ghaziabad 387 and Gurugram 390 – all in the “very poor” category.

‘Serious deficiencies’ in implementing measures, says air quality panel

The Commission for Air Quality Management on Monday said that there had been “serious deficiencies” in implementing the Graded Response Action Plan as per norms under Stage 3 and Stage 4 by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and the authorities in other states.

In its review, the commission observed shortfalls in the range of 7% to 99.6% in important actions that needed to be taken, such as inspection of construction sites and the sweeping of roads.

The commission also found a high number of unresolved complaints filed by the public. Forty-seven percent of the complaints were pending in Delhi during Stage 3 and 68% during Stage 4, it added.

The panel directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and the authorities in other states to initiate proceedings against officials responsible for failing to implement the measures.