Delhi-NCR residents are breathing a sigh of slight relief as authorities have revoked Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the region, effective immediately. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) sub-committee made the decision after observing a continuous improvement in Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI), thanks to favorable meteorological conditions and recent rainfall.
While the most stringent restrictions have been lifted, residents aren't entirely out of the woods. Actions under GRAP Stages I and II will remain in effect, with concerned agencies continuing to implement, monitor, and review the situation to prevent any further deterioration of air quality in the coming days. This includes ongoing measures such as monitoring construction dust, checking polluting vehicles, and encouraging reduced vehicle use. Construction and demolition activities will remain regulated, with strict dust control norms in place, and water sprinkling and mechanical road sweeping will continue on major roads. Furthermore, construction and demolition project sites and industrial units that have been issued specific closure orders due to violations will not be allowed to resume operations without explicit permission from the Commission.
The revocation of GRAP Stage III follows a period where Delhi-NCR grappled with "very poor" to "severe" air quality. On January 20, Delhi's AQI stood at 378, categorized as "very poor," which prompted the initial imposition of stricter curbs. The transport sector was identified as the largest contributor to pollution at 11.1%, followed by Delhi and peripheral industries at 8.7%.
Despite the lifted restrictions, air quality is expected to remain in the "moderate" to "poor" category in the coming days. The predominant surface wind is expected to blow from the north-northwest at speeds of up to 10 kmph during the morning, increasing to 15 kmph in the afternoon before decreasing again in the evening and night on January 25. Forecasts suggest that the air quality is likely to be in the "very poor" category on January 22, improving to "moderate" from January 23 to 24, and then falling to the "poor" category on January 25. The outlook for the subsequent six days indicates that air quality will likely fluctuate between "poor" and "very poor".
For today, January 22, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi is 286, which means the air quality is currently at a severe level. The primary pollutants are PM10 at 132.95, and PM2.5 at 179.72.
While the revocation of GRAP Stage III offers some immediate relief, the ongoing measures under Stages I and II highlight the continuous effort required to manage air pollution in Delhi-NCR. Residents, especially those sensitive to air pollution, should remain cautious and take necessary precautions as air quality is expected to stay between moderate to poor in the near future.
