Delhi air quality turns ‘severe’, GRAP Stage IV curbs kick in

A thick blanket of smog enveloped the national capital on Saturday morning, with the air quality index (AQI) crossing 450 in several areas. This prompted the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to invoke Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the NCR.

“Keeping in view the prevailing trend of air quality and in an effort to prevent its further deterioration in the region, the CAQM sub-committee on GRAP has decided to invoke actions as envisaged under Stage IV of the extant GRAP – ‘Severe ’ air quality, 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 GRAP already in force in the NCR, it added.

The curbs under Stage IV include ban on the entry of non-essential trucks and non-BS VI light commercial vehicles.

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.

The Delhi Government also directed all government and private offices in the city to function with only 50 per cent staff strength and the rest will work from home. In another order, the schools were directed to conduct classes in a hybrid mode for students up to Class IX and XI with immediate effect.

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.

Construction suspended, trucks banned

* Ban on the entry of non-essential trucks, light commercial vehicles (non-BS VI)

* Diesel-operated medium & heavy goods vehicles (BS IV and older) barred, except those carrying essentials

* All construction/demolition activities for public infrastructure projects suspended

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.

Only a handful of stations recorded readings below 400 which included Najafgarh at 340 and the 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 the CPCB.

According to the\B \BCAQM, the reason behind the sudden pollution spike was not the rise in emissions but the feeble western disturbance approaching northwest India.

This prevailing meteorological condition has reduced the wind speed and resulted in an increase in moisture content in the lower atmosphere.

Such conditions during the winter season are conducive to the formation of smog and fog, resulting in poor dispersion and trapping of pollutants near the surface.

AQI in various areas

Jahangirpuri 478

Bawana 476

Vivek Vihar 474

Anand Vihar 471

ITO, Wazirpur 469

Rohini 468

DTU 467

Mundka 466

Patparganj 465

Narela 464