GRAP Stage-4 curbs kick in as Delhi’s air quality turns ‘severe’

A thick blanket of smog shrouded the national capital on Saturday morning, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) registering a reading of 431, under the 'severe' category, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to invoke Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

“Keeping in view the prevailing trend of air quality and in an effort to prevent further deterioration of air quality in the region, the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP decides to invoke all actions as envisaged under Stage-IV of the extant GRAP – ‘Severe ’ Air Quality (DELHI AQI > 450), with immediate effect, in the entire NCR,” read a statement from the CAQM.

This is in addition to the actions under Stages I, II and III of extant GRAP already in force in NCR, it added.

The curbs under GRAP-4 include ban on entry of non-essential trucks, non-BS-VI light commercial vehicles.

Related: Delhi schools to shift to hybrid classes amid severe air pollution

Moreover, diesel-operated medium and heavy goods vehicles (BS-IV and older) are barred, except those carrying essential items.

All construction and demolition activities for public infrastructure projects, such as roads, highways, flyovers, and power lines, are suspended.

Additionally, the panel also suggested for offices in the National Capital Region to operate at 50-per cent capacity, with the remainder working from home.

Of the total monitoring stations in Delhi, at least 25 were in the 'severe' category with AQI readings crossing the 400 mark, the CPCB data showed.

According to the CPCB data, Jahangirpuri registered the highest AQI at 478, followed by Bawana at 476, Anand Vihar at 471, ITO and Wazirpur at 469, among others.

Only a handful of stations recorded readings below 400 which include Najafgarh at 340 and IGI Airport at 371.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor' and 401 to 500 'severe', according to CPCB.