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Delhi AQI nears ‘severe’ range, GRAP IV returns
"The AQI of Delhi, which was recorded as 400 on Saturday at 4 pm, exhibited a sharp increasing trend and has been recorded at 428 at 8 pm, owing to a western disturbance, highly unfavourable weather and meteorological conditions, and lack of dispersal of pollutants," said a senior official of the CAQM.
Showers and gusty winds bring Delhi’s first rain of the year, sharply improving air quality and lowering temperatures. (Express File Photo)
Delhi-NCR saw the return of strictest anti-pollution measures on Saturday under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) as the Capital recorded an average air quality index (AQI) of 400 on Saturday in the ‘Very Poor’ category, on the brink of turning ‘Severe. This was a sharp increase from Friday’s AQI of 354 when the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas had invoked GRAP 3 measures. While neighbouring Noida registered an AQI of 388 on Saturday, compared to 363 a day before; AQI in Gurgaon was logged at 360, as compared to 347 on Friday.
“The AQI of Delhi, which was recorded as 400 on Saturday at 4 pm, exhibited a sharp increasing trend and has been recorded at 428 at 8 pm, owing to a western disturbance, highly unfavourable weather and meteorological conditions, and lack of dispersal of pollutants,” said a senior official of the CAQM.
Under restrictions that are imposed by anti-pollution watchdog under GRAP IV, schools in Delhi and the NCR districts of Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar operate in hybrid mode, combining physical and online classes for students up to Class IX and XI, wherever online classes are feasible.
Government, municipal and private offices in Delhi have to function with 50% staff working from home, while the remaining employees attend office. The Centre can also consider similar work-from-home arrangements for its employees.
Entry of trucks into Delhi is stopped, except for those carrying essential commodities or providing essential services. Only electric, CNG, LNG and BS-VI diesel trucks are permitted to enter the Capital. Light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi other than EVs, CNG or BS-VI diesel vehicles have also been barred, except for essential services. Within Delhi, BS-IV and older diesel medium and heavy goods vehicles have been prohibited.
All construction and demolition activities are halted, including those related to roads, highways, flyovers, pipelines, power transmission and telecommunication projects. Vehicles carrying construction materials such as sand, bricks, cement, aggregates or debris are also not permitted to enter the Capital during the period.
The air quality in the city is not expected to improve anytime soon. According to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology bulletin, wind speeds are expected to remain low, generally below 10 kmph, with frequent calm conditions during morning and evening hours. Such conditions are likely to continue restricting the dispersion of pollutants, it said.
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The bulletin stated that air quality is likely to remain in the ‘Severe’ category on Sunday before improving marginally to the ‘Very Poor’ category for the next two days. The outlook for the subsequent six days suggests air quality is likely to fluctuate between the ‘Very Poor’ and ‘Poor’ categories.
The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Sunday, as it forecast moderate fog conditions. Dense fog conditions prevailed in parts of Capital on Saturday, affecting visibility in several areas.
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