The air pollution crisis in Delhi escalated sharply today, forcing authorities to implement the stringent measures under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect.
The decision by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) came after the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) breached the critical 400-mark, officially slipping into the ‘Severe’ category.
AQI Hits 401, Triggering Emergency Action
The city woke up to a smog-filled and hazy Saturday morning, attributed to slow wind speeds and unfavorable meteorological conditions trapping pollutants near the surface.
- AQI Recorded: The overall AQI was recorded at 401 at 10:00 AM today.
- GRAP Stage III: This stage is triggered when the AQI ranges between 401 and 450 (‘Severe’), indicating a high risk of respiratory effects even on healthy people.
Key Restrictions Under GRAP Stage III
The implementation of Stage III mandates several immediate restrictions, which are in addition to measures already in force under Stages I and II (for ‘Poor’ and ‘Very Poor’ air quality).
The most significant curbs include:
- Ban on Construction & Demolition (C&D): Non-essential C&D activities are strictly banned across the entire NCR. This includes earthwork, demolition, piling, and the transportation of dust-generating materials. Exemptions are typically made only for essential public service projects (e.g., railway, metro, defense, and healthcare).
- Vehicle Restrictions: Strict restrictions are imposed on the plying of certain polluting vehicles, including BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) in Delhi and surrounding NCR districts.
- Industrial Closures: Brick kilns, hot mix plants, and industries not running on approved fuels are closed down.
- Hybrid Learning: Authorities may mandate shifting classes for students up to Grade 5 to a hybrid or online mode.
- Work-From-Home Advisory: NCR governments are directed to take a decision on allowing public, municipal, and private offices to operate at 50% staff strength, with the rest working from home.
Authorities and enforcement agencies have been directed to intensify preventative action to ensure compliance and prevent the air quality from deteriorating further into the ‘Severe Plus’ category (AQI above 450), which would trigger Stage IV.