Delhi’s Air Quality Plummets to ‘Severe’ Levels, GRAP III in Action: Non-Essential Construction Banned”

NEWDELHI: The Centre’s Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued a ban on non-essential construction activities in Delhi-NCR as pollution levels in the region approached the ‘severe’ category. The CAQM also instructed a prohibition on the entry of diesel-guzzling trucks into the national capital as part of Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), a government air pollution control initiative activated during the winter season.

Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 402, signifying hazardous air quality conditions. The CAQM warned that pollution levels are likely to worsen due to unfavorable meteorological and climatic factors.

Under GRAP, actions are classified into four stages: Stage I – ‘Moderate to Poor’ (AQI 201-300); Stage II – ‘Very Poor’ (AQI 301-400); Stage III – ‘Severe’ (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV – ‘Severe Plus’ (AQI >450). Stage III of GRAP involves a complete halt to construction and demolition activities except for essential government projects, mining, and stone crushing. It also includes a ban on the entry of light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi and diesel-fueled trucks, as well as medium and heavy goods vehicles, except those involved in essential services.

On a hazy Thursday, Delhi recorded a 24-hour average AQI of 392, placing it in the “very poor” category. Eighteen out of 37 monitoring stations reported AQI in the “severe” category. Weather forecasts suggest shallow fog in the coming days, with a relative humidity of 70 percent. The ban on construction activities and diesel trucks aims to combat the deteriorating air quality in the region.