The air quality index (AQI) in Delhi has recently worsened, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to invoke Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) this morning. At 8 AM, the AQI was recorded at 317, categorizing it as “very poor.”
The AQI scale classifies values as follows: 0-50 (good), 51-100 (satisfactory), 101-200 (moderate), 201-300 (poor), 301-400 (very poor), 401-450 (severe), and above 450 (severe-plus). The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts that Delhi’s AQI will remain in the “very poor” range in the coming days due to unfavorable weather conditions and the impact of stubble burning in nearby Haryana and Punjab, especially during the post-harvest season.
Under Stage 2 of the GRAP, restrictions will be placed on the use of coal, firewood, and diesel generator sets across the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR). Additionally, mechanical road sweeping and water sprinkling will occur daily on designated roads, with dust control measures implemented at construction and demolition sites.
Traffic management will be enhanced, including increased deployment of personnel at congestion points, higher parking fees to discourage private vehicle use, and the introduction of additional bus and metro services. Citizens are encouraged to use public transportation, minimize personal vehicle usage, regularly replace air filters in their cars, and avoid dust-generating construction activities during the October to January period. Open burning of solid waste and biomass is also discouraged.
These measures build on the Stage 1 actions initiated on October 15, which included periodic road sweeping, dust mitigation at construction sites, and a ban on open waste burning and the use of coal or firewood in eateries.
Future Stages of GRAP:
– Stage 3 is implemented when the AQI ranges from 401 to 450, introducing more frequent mechanized road cleaning, intensified public transport services, and restrictions on certain vehicle types.
– Stage 4, enacted when the AQI exceeds 450, includes stopping truck entry into Delhi, banning construction activities, and potentially halting physical classes for younger students. The government may also impose restrictions on office attendance and consider additional emergency measures.
Earlier this week, the Delhi government launched the “Red Light On, Gaadi Off” campaign, encouraging drivers to turn off their engines at red lights to reduce pollution. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai emphasized the government’s commitment to combating air pollution, including the establishment of a “green war room” and an anti-dust campaign, along with spraying bio-decomposers over 5,000 acres to address stubble burning.
