The order cited a Supreme Court order, where the apex court had said that if the commission found that the AQI 350 mark was violated, phase-III measures should be implemented and if the AQI exceeded 400, phase-IV measures should be reintroduced.
As the air quality continues to deteriorate, a sub-committee of the Air Quality Management Commission has implemented Phase IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) schedule for the entire National Capital Region (NCR) with ‘immediate effect’. Monday night. This comes after Delhi’s air quality index crossed 400 points. AQI was recorded at 399 at 9 pm and 401 at 10 pm.
In view of the drastic rise in Delhi’s AQI due to extremely adverse weather conditions and complete calm air conditions, the CAQM sub-committee on GRAP has called an emergency meeting on Monday. A December 16 order by GRAP Sub-Committee Director RK Aggarwal said, “As per the directions of the Supreme Court, the Sub-Committee has called for a comprehensive revision of Phase-IV of the Schedule under GRAP. Issued on December 13, 2024, the work under Phase-IV will cease immediately. Actions under Phase III, II and I above, have already been implemented.”
The order cited a Supreme Court order, where the apex court had said that if the commission found that the AQI 350 mark was violated, phase-III measures should be implemented and if the AQI exceeded 400, phase-IV measures should be reintroduced. Earlier the GRAP-III restrictions were reimposed in the entire NCR as the AQI breached 350 points amid “extremely adverse weather conditions” and “other factors contributing to the spread of pollutants”.
“However, air quality standards further deteriorated due to sharp reduction in mixing layer height and absolute calm air conditions in Delhi. The sub-committee on GRAP was accordingly keeping a close watch on the air quality scenario in Delhi,” the order said.
“The sub-committee noted that the AQI level touched almost 400 points ie it was 399 at 9 am and was recorded as 401 at 10 am, breaking the 400 mark,” it added. CAQM, responsible for protection and improvement of air quality in NCR and adjoining areas, on 13 December submitted a revised plan to combat winter pollution.
The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a set of emergency measures implemented in Delhi-NCR to combat air pollution based on air quality severity. Delhi continues to suffer from air pollution, as the Air Quality Index remains in the ‘very poor’ category, posing significant health risks to its residents. Air quality is not expected to improve anytime soon.
(This story was not edited by DNA staff and was published by ANI)