Due to the worsening air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR), the Sub-Committee of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has imposed Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect, starting Monday night. This decision follows the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi surpassing the 400 mark. At 9 pm, the AQI was recorded at 399, and by 10 pm, it had reached 401.
The steep rise in the AQI is attributed to unfavourable meteorological conditions, including calm wind conditions, which limit the dispersion of pollutants. As a result, the CAQM Sub-Committee convened an emergency meeting on Monday to address the issue.
In an official order dated December 16, RK Agrawal, Director of the Sub-Committee on GRAP, stated, “In pursuance of the Supreme Court’s directives, the Sub Committee hereby invokes Stage-IV of the Schedule under the GRAP, as comprehensively revised and issued on December 13, 2024, with immediate effect. The actions under Stage-IV shall be over and above the actions under Stages III, II and I, already in force.”
This action follows the Supreme Court’s directives, which mandate the implementation of Stage-III measures if the AQI surpasses 350 and Stage-IV measures if it exceeds 400. Prior to the Stage-IV imposition, Stage-III restrictions had been reintroduced across NCR as AQI crossed the 350 threshold, exacerbated by the same meteorological conditions.
The order further emphasized, “The Air Quality parameters, however, further worsened owing to a drastic reduction in the mixing layer height and continued absolute calm-wind conditions over Delhi. The Sub-Committee on GRAP was accordingly maintaining a close watch on the air quality scenario in Delhi.”
By 10 pm, the AQI reached a critical level of 401, breaching the 400 mark, prompting the immediate implementation of Stage-IV measures.
The CAQM, which is responsible for improving air quality in NCR and surrounding areas, had earlier revised its winter pollution action plan on December 13. The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) outlines emergency measures based on the severity of air quality, with Stage IV representing the most stringent actions.
Delhi continues to grapple with severe air pollution, with air quality indices consistently in the ‘very poor’ category, which poses significant health risks to its residents. There is no immediate relief in sight as air quality is expected to remain hazardous.