
Delhi Air Pollution: In view of deteriorating air quality in Delhi NCR, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has re-imposed all measures of Stage III of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) effective immediately. This decision was taken after the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi jumped from 276 on January 28 to 365 on January 29, placing it in the ‘Severe’ category.
Reading the AQI Scale
The AQI classification is this:
- 0-50: Good
- 51-100: Satisfactory
- 101-200: Moderate
- 201-300: Poor
- 301-400: Very Poor
- 401-500: Severe
When the AQI reached 365, authorities implemented Stage III restrictions to prevent pollution levels from increasing anymore and threatening further degradation in air quality.
Restrictions in GRAP-III
When GRAP Stage III was implemented, the following activities are prohibited:
- Prohibition of construction and demolition activities which are not essential.
- Closing of brick kilns and industries that have not shifted to cleaner fuels
- Prohibiting non-essential diesel generator (DG) sets
- Restrictive use of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles
- Restrictive use of diesel medium goods vehicles running on diesel.
- Stringent checking of vehicular emissions.
- Enhanced mechanical sweeping and watering of roads for dust settling
- Open waste and other things burning is prohibited in totality.
What is Permitted Under GRAP-III?
While the restrictions are in place, the essential construction activities are still allowed. This includes:
Public Transport & Infrastructure: Metro rail, railway services, airports, and interstate bus terminals.
Government & Defense Projects: National security and other critical projects.
Healthcare Facilities: Construction of hospitals and healthcare centers.
Linear Public Infrastructure: Highways, roads, flyovers, power transmission, and pipelines.
Sanitation and Water Supply: Construction of sewage treatment plants and water supply systems.
- Supportive Activities: Support activities for current contracts.
- Non-Polluting Work: Plumbing, electrical installations, carpentry, and interior finishing (except painting, polishing, and varnishing).
Delhi Weather Update
Delhi saw a minimum temperature of 6.4 degrees Celsius on January 29, two notches below the seasonal average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The humidity level was 100% at 8:30 AM, which means dense morning fog. The IMD has forecasted partly cloudy skies throughout the day, with the maximum temperature expected to reach 25 degrees Celsius.
In response to alarmingly high air pollution, people have been cautioned against venturing out and asked to wear masks if they go outdoors. Authorities have been watching the situation and further restrictions will follow if air quality continues to decline. Enforcement of GRAP-III has helped reduce pollution levels and safeguard the health of public in the national capital region.
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