Unfavorable meteorological conditions, very high incidents of farm fires and low speed North-Westerly winds moving the pollutants to Delhi are the major causes for sudden spike in AQI

Newdelhi:5/11/23:In its last meeting held on 03.11.2023, the Sub-Committee for operationalization of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) unanimously decided to further monitor the Air Quality scenario in NCR, before invoking more stringent and disruptive actions under Stage-IV of GRAP, as Delhi’s average AQI had started showing a declining trend.

Today, Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) clocked 454 as per the daily AQI Bulletin provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). In the wake of this trend in AQI owing to unfavorable meteorological conditions in Delhi-NCR, the Sub-Committee for operationalization of the Graded Response Action Plan met today. The Sub-Committee while comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality scenario in the region as well as the forecasts for meteorological conditions and air quality index made available by IMD/IITM during the meeting observed that at 4 PM of 04.11.2023 the average AQI for Delhi was recorded as 415 which started to steadily rise further. At 5 AM today, the average AQI for Delhi clocked 454, which had escalated to 463 at 3 PM due to the continuing unfavorable meteorological and climatic conditions.

Keeping in view the prevailing trend of air quality and in an effort to prevent further deterioration of air quality in the region, the Sub-Committee today has taken the call to invoke all actions as envisaged under Stage-IV of GRAP – ‘Severe+’ Air Quality (Delhi’s AQI > 450), today with immediate effect in the entire NCR. This is in addition to the preventive/ restrictive actions mentioned under Stage I, Stage-II, and Stage III of GRAP. Various agencies responsible for implementing measures under GRAP and Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of NCR and DPCC have also been advised to ensure strict implementation of actions under Stage-IV of revised GRAP in addition to all actions under Stage-I, Stage-II Stage-III of GRAP already in force, during this period.

An 8-point action plan as per Stage-IV of GRAP is applicable with immediate effect from today in the entire NCR. This 8-point action plan includes steps to be implemented/ ensured by different agencies and Pollution Control Boards of NCR and DPCC. These steps are:

1. Stop entry of truck traffic into Delhi (except for trucks carrying essential commodities/ providing essential services and all LNG/ CNG/ electric trucks).

2. Do not permit LCVs registered outside Delhi, other than EVs/ CNG/ BS-VI diesel, to enter Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities/ providing essential services.

3. Ban on plying of Delhi – registered diesel operated Medium Goods Vehicles (MGVs) and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) in Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities/ providing essential services.

4. Ban C&D activities also in linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines, etc.

5. NCR State Govts. and GNCTD may take a decision to discontinue physical classes even for classes VI–IX, class XI and conduct lessons in an online mode.

6. NCR State Governments/ GNCTD to take a decision on allowing public, municipal, and private offices to work on 50% strength and the rest to work from home.

7. Central Government may take appropriate decision on permitting work from home for employees in Central Government offices.

8. State Governments may consider additional emergency measures like closure of colleges/ educational institutions and closure of non-emergency commercial activities, permitting running of vehicles on odd-even basis of registration numbers, etc.

Further, the CAQM appeals to the citizens of NCR to cooperate in implementing GRAP and follow the steps mentioned in the Citizen Charter under GRAP. Citizens are advised to:

• Children, elderly, and those with respiratory, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, or other chronic diseases to avoid outdoor activities and stay indoors, as much as possible.

The revised schedule of GRAP is available on the Commission’s website and can be accessed via caqm.nic.in