GRAP 3 revoked in Delhi-NCR as air quality improves

The Commission for Air Quality Management on Thursday revoked Stage 3 restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan in Delhi and the National Capital Region after air quality improved.

Stage 3 restrictions had been imposed on January 16 after air quality slipped into the “very poor” category. A day later, Stage 4 measures were enforced when air quality deteriorated further into the “severe” category. The Stage 4 restrictions were revoked on Tuesday following an improvement in air quality.

The commission said on Thursday that Delhi’s air quality had improved due to favourable meteorological conditions.

It added that the average Air Quality Index in the national capital stood at 322 on Tuesday, which is in the “very poor” category.

The commission also said that air quality forecasts provided by the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology suggest that in coming days, the AQI may remain in the “moderate” to “poor” category.

Noting that Stage 3 restrictions under the GRAP were being revoked, the statement added that anti-pollution measures under Stage 1 and Stage 2 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.

As of 7.07 pm on Thursday, the average AQI in Delhi was 330, which is in the “very poor” category, according to data from the Sameer application. In 29 of the 38 monitoring stations, it was in the “very poor” category, showed the application, which provides hourly updates from the Central Pollution Control Board.

On Wednesday, Delhi’s average AQI was 322, also in the “very poor” category.

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 342, Greater Noida 311, Ghaziabad 377 and Gurugram 374 – all in the “very poor” category.

SC asks NCR states to act on CAQM recommendations

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Delhi government, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and agencies of the National Capital Region states to submit action taken reports on the Commission for Air Quality Management’s recommendations for long-term measures to tackle air pollution in the region, Live Law reported.

Appearing for the commission, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati told the court that vehicular pollution was the single largest contributor to air pollution in Delhi-NCR.

She said that the commission had recommended 15 long-term measures, such as phasing out polluting vehicles, strengthening the pollution-under-control regime, expanding rail and metro networks, revising electric vehicle policies and offering higher incentives for scrapping old vehicles.

On Wednesday, a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said that it would not entertain objections to the commission’s recommendations.

Meanwhile, advocate Apprajita Singh, the amicus curiae in the matter, urged the court to have concrete timelines fixed for the proposed recommendations, Live Law reported.

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