κ¦The Commission for Air Quality Managemcnt in NCR and adjoining areas issued a statement announcing the revocation of actions under Stage III of Graded Response Action Plan as the Air Quality lndex in Delhi drops below the 400 mark on Friday evening.
βThe AQI of Delhi has been continuously improving on Friday as it recorded 348 at 5 pm, 341 at 6 pm and 334 at 7 pm. According to Central Pollution Control Board the AQI in Delhi was recorded at 388 around 9 pm on December 27 which falls in the 'Very Poor' category.
π¦The improvement in the air quality came after a rainy day in the national capital. According to to Indian Meteorological Department, rain lashed Delhi-NCR throughout Friday with the city recording its highest December rainfall in the last 15 years and the mercury dropping sharply to 14.6 degree celsius.
CAQM Revokes GRAP-3 Measures
Following the Supreme Court π§order dates December 5, the GRAP-3 measurements shall be revoked when the AQI records above 350 and below the 400 mark.
π²The said that under this measurement, the construction and demolition project sites, industrial units and other establishments that have been issued specific closure orders due to violations or non-compliance with various statutory directions, rules, and guidelines, shall not resume operations under any circumstances without explicit permission from the Commission.
πActions under Stage 1 and 2 of the revised GRAP will remain in effect and will be implemented, monitored, and reviewed by all concerned authorities across the entire NCR to ensure that air quality levels do not worsen further.
ΰ·΄All implementing agencies must maintain strict vigilance, particularly with respect to measures under Stage I and II of the revised GRAP.
πClasses up to grade 5 are required to shift to hybrid mode under Stage 3. Parents and students have the option to choose online education wherever available.
κ§Under Stage 3, the use of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel cars (4-wheelers) is restricted in Delhi and nearby NCR districts. Persons with disabilities are exempt. Stage 3 also bans non-essential diesel-operated medium goods vehicles with BS-IV or older standards in Delhi.
βWhile Stage 3 of the GRAP is being revoked, considering the winter season, when weather conditions may not always be favorable, and to prevent the AQI levels from worsening, citizens are urged to strictly follow the citizen charter under GRAP II.
κ¦The sub-committee will continue to closely monitor the air quality situation and review it periodically to assess further actions, depending on the air quality in Delhi and forecasts provided by IMD/IITM.
πThe statement also mentioned that according to the air quality and weather forecast provided by IMD/IITM, there is a likelihood that the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi will remain in the "Poor" category (200-300 AQI) in the coming days due to favorable meteorological conditions.
