GRAP Stage 4 curbs invoked in Delhi-NCR as air quality turns severe

GRAP Stage 4 curbs were invoked in Delhi-NCR on Monday night as the air quality turned severe, an official order said.

Classes for students from VI-IX and XI in the capital, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Noida will run in the hybrid mode.

Earlier in the day, the Centre’s air quality panel for Delhi-NCR had invoked restrictive measures under Stage-3 of the air pollution control plan amid a sharp dip in air quality due to unfavourable meteorological conditions.

Delhi’s AQI stood at 367 at 2 pm. Poor air quality, caused by unfavourable weather conditions, often persists from November to January.

“Considering the highly unfavourable meteorological conditions leading the AQI of Delhi into the higher end of the very poor category, the panel’s sub-committee on Graded Response Action Plan decides to impose Stage-3 of the revised GRAP schedule (issued on Friday) in the entire NCR, with immediate effect,” an official order said.

Stage-3 also entails a ban on non-essential diesel-operated medium goods vehicles with BS-IV or older standards within Delhi. Non-essential diesel light commercial vehicles of BS-IV or older standards, registered outside Delhi, are also not allowed to enter the city.