Delhi Chokes as AQI Hits 364; GRAP Stage-III Curbs Triggered Ahead of Diwali
Delhi battles hazardous air with an AQI of 364. GRAP Stage-III curbs are now active to prevent severe pollution ahead of Diwali.
The national capital continues to struggle with hazardous air quality, as the overall Delhi AQI levels remained in the 'very poor' category on Saturday morning. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city's air quality index stood at 364 at 8 am, leaving millions of residents breathing toxic air just days before the Diwali festivities.
Severe Spikes Across the City
While the citywide average falls within the 'very poor' bracket (301–400), several localized areas have already crossed into the 'severe' zone (401–500), posing significant health risks. The most alarming readings were recorded at:
- IIT Delhi: 443
- Punjabi Bagh: 433
- Narela: 409
Other areas like Dhaula Kuan (318) and the Cantonment Area (315) remained in the 'very poor' category, while Anand Vihar recorded a slightly lower reading of 272.
GRAP Stage-III: Pre-emptive Strike Against Pollution
In a bid to prevent the air quality from deteriorating further, the Sub-Committee on the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked Stage-III curbs across Delhi-NCR. This decision comes two days before Diwali, acting as a precautionary measure based on forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).
The GRAP framework is a four-stage emergency system designed to scale restrictions as the air worsens:
- Stage I (Poor, 201-300): Focuses on road dust control and banning open waste burning.
- Stage II (Very Poor, 301-400): Includes higher parking fees and staggered office timings.
- Stage III (Severe, 401-450): Implements strict vehicle bans and halts construction.
- Stage IV (Severe Plus, Above 450): Bans heavy goods vehicles and introduces emergency industrial restrictions.
What Stage-III Means for Residents
With Stage-III now active, the capital and adjoining districts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan are facing stringent restrictions to curb emissions:
Vehicle Restrictions
There is now a strict ban on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers across Delhi and specific NCR districts. Additionally, there are tighter restrictions on non-Delhi-registered diesel commercial vehicles and older light/medium goods vehicles entering the city.
Construction and Industry Shutdowns
To reduce dust, all non-essential construction, major excavations, demolition, and roadwork have been suspended. Essential projects are only permitted if they follow rigorous dust-mitigation protocols. Furthermore, stone crushers and mining activities face immediate shutdown or severe operational limits.
Education and Transport
To protect the most vulnerable, education authorities are permitted to move primary classes (up to Class 5) to a hybrid learning model, blending online and physical instruction. To discourage the use of private cars, authorities are increasing the frequency of Metro trips and deploying more buses.
Despite these measures, the atmospheric conditions remain challenging. The IMD reported misty conditions at New Delhi-Safdarjung on Saturday morning, with temperatures hovering around 17.0°C.