New Delhi, Dec 13 (UNI) As air quality in the national capital deteriorated further, slipping into the ‘severe-plus’ category, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Saturday invoked Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), triggering the most stringent emergency measures to curb worsening pollution levels in Delhi and the NCR.
In a statement issued on Saturday evening, the pollution watchdog said air quality trends in the city were continuously worsening. Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 431 at 4 pm, which further rose to 441 by 6 pm, driven by slow wind speeds, a stable atmosphere, unfavourable meteorological conditions, and poor dispersion of pollutants.
“With the AQI nearing the ‘severe-plus’ range and no immediate improvement in meteorological conditions, the Sub-Committee has decided to implement all actions under GRAP Stage IV with immediate effect,” the CAQM said.
GRAP-4 measures are enforced when the AQI breaches or is forecast to breach 450, and include the strictest curbs such as bans on construction activities, entry of certain vehicles, and closure of schools, depending on local administration decisions.
Notably, the decision to escalate curbs came less than 12 hours after CAQM had announced GRAP Stage 3 measures for Delhi-NCR on Saturday morning, underlining the rapid deterioration in air quality over the course of the day.
