The sub-committee of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in Delhi-NCR has immediately lifted the Phase-III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the region. This decision follows an improvement in Delhi’s air quality. Consequently, the ban on non-essential construction and the operation of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers has been removed. Under GRAP Phase III, apart from essential government projects, mining, and stone-crushing, there was a complete ban on construction and demolition activities, as well as on BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles in and around Delhi.
Previously, last Sunday, following a severe deterioration in air quality, CAQM had implemented GRAP-Phase III in Delhi-NCR. CAQM had convened an emergency meeting to address the sudden decline in air quality, stating, “The sub-committee decides to implement an eight-point action plan across NCR with immediate effect as per the modified GRAP Phase-III.”
Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 368
In GRAP-Phase III, the operation of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel LMVs (light motor vehicles or four-wheelers) was restricted in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar districts. Additionally, a ban was imposed on non-essential construction activities. It’s important to note that on Thursday, at 9 AM, Delhi’s air quality index was at 368, which falls into the ‘very poor’ category. The AQI scale defines 0-50 as ‘Good’, 51-100 as ‘Satisfactory’, 101-200 as ‘Moderate’, 201-300 as ‘Poor’, 301-400 as ‘Very Poor’, and 401-500 as ‘Severe’.
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