Poor AQI in Delhi this May: Authorities fail to invoke emergency measures, NGT seeks report

The principal bench of the NGT in May directed the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) to submit a report explaining the reasons for not invoking GRAP-1.

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Sep 12, 2024 09:39 AM IST

National Green Tribunal (NGT), delhi aqi, Delhi air pollution, Delhi air quality, air pollution, air pollution level, Death by Breath, Indian express news, current affairs

The CAQM said the sub-committee had expected the measures and favourable meteorological conditions to lead to an improvement in air quality.

In May, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the Capital remained in the poor category for six consecutive days, breaching the 200 mark and falling within the 201-300 range. The scenario should have triggered Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-1), as per law. However, the authorities failed to invoke the emergency measures, prompting the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to take notice.

The principal bench of the NGT in May directed the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) to submit a report explaining the reasons for not invoking GRAP-1.

The order came during the hearing of a suo motu case registered by the NGT on the basis of an article published in The Indian Express in October 2023.

According to the report by the CAQM submitted to the NGT on Monday, the “widely varying trend of AQI” was why its sub-committee did “not particularly invoke” GRAP Stage-1 “on paper”.

“Historically as well, the GRAP Schedule had been invoked only during the winter in the past year, beginning 2017,” said the report. The CAQM said that this summer, especially in May, did not have any definitive pattern of gradual decline in air quality generally observed during the winter. Even in previous summers, AQI levels breached the mark on and off, it added.

As per CAQM, its sub-committee reviewed the scenario in four meetings in May, in which it ruled out the role of any specific local sector contributing to air pollution.

According to the report, the CAQM took steps to intensify action to reduce dust pollution from construction, demolition, and linear projects. Deploying anti-smog guns, spraying water mists, using dust screens and ensuring proper waste transportation were some of the measures it considered.

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The member secretaries of pollution control boards were asked to take action to control emissions from these sources. Urgent steps were directed to be taken, including intensive drives at pollution hotspots, increasing water sprinklers and road sweeping equipment, and enforcing dust control measures at construction sites in meetings held in the second half of May.

The CAQM said the sub-committee had expected the measures and favourable meteorological conditions to lead to an improvement in air quality.

The NGT directed the respondent on Wednesday to seek instructions on the power of the sub-committee regarding the invocation of GRAP before the next hearing on September 27.

Sophiya Mathew

Sophiya Mathew is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. She joined the Delhi bureau in 2024, and has specialization in Integrated Multimedia Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. Professional Background Core Beats: Her reporting is primarily focused on the Environment and Education. Specialization: She has gained recognition for her ground-level reporting on the Yamuna floodplains and the socio-economic challenges faced by those living on its banks. She also focuses on the disparities in Delhi's education system, ranging from elite private schools to government institutions and refugee education. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent work has been heavily centered on Delhi's severe winter pollution crisis and the government's regulatory responses: 1. The Air Pollution Crisis "A tale of two cities: Delhi govt schools choke in bad air, private classrooms set up air filters" (Dec 20, 2025): A high-impact feature contrasting the "Clean Air Bubbles" in elite schools with the reality of government school students who are exposed to an equivalent of 17 cigarettes a day due to outdoor exposure. "Delhi sees season's worst air day, second worst December AQI in nearly a decade" (Dec 15, 2025): An analytical report on the meteorological patterns trapping pollutants in the NCR. "Delhi bans non-BS VI vehicles from outside: Why curbing vehicular pollution is key" (Dec 17, 2025): Explaining the science behind targeting specific vehicle vintages to lower particulate matter. 2. Enforcement & Regulations "No fuel at pumps in Delhi without valid PUC certificate from December 18" (Dec 17, 2025): Breaking the news on the environment ministry's strict "No PUC, No Fuel" policy. 3. Education Policy "Law to regulate school fee in Delhi risks becoming procedural, say parents" (Dec 13, 2025): Investigating the loopholes in the new Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025. "Monsoon Session: Private school fee regulation Bill cleared after four-hour debate" (Aug 9, 2025): Covering the legislative passage of the controversial fee hike regulation. Signature Style Sophiya is known for her observational depth. Her reporting often includes vivid details from school corridors, hospital waitlists, or the banks of the Yamuna to illustrate how policy failures affect the city's most vulnerable residents. She is a frequent expert guest on the 3 Things podcast, where she explains the complexities of Delhi’s environmental laws. X (Twitter): @SophiyaMathew1 ... Read More

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