The Sub-Committee for operationalization of actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) reviewed the overall air quality parameters of Delhi-NCR and observed a progressive improvement. A press release on the status was issued on January 18, 2024.
On that day the AQI recorded was 316 at 2:00 P.M. This is about 85 AQI points below the threshold for invoking the GRAP Stage-III actions (Delhi AQI 401-450). The preventive, mitigative, and restrictive actions under all Stages up to Stage-III have been underway, leading to a likelihood of sustaining the improvement in AQI.
The forecasts by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) did not indicate any significant deterioration in the air quality. Instead, there is a likelihood of the AQI remaining in the ‘Very Poor’/’Poor’ category in the next few days.
Taking into account the disruptive nature of restrictions under Stage-III of GRAP, impacting a large number of stakeholders and the public, and considering the significant improvement in Delhi’s average AQI, the Sub-Committee unanimously decided to revoke Stage-III of GRAP in the entire National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect.
However, the actions under Stage-I to Stage-II of GRAP shall remain invoked and be implemented, monitored, and reviewed by all concerned agencies in the entire NCR. Agencies are urged to intensify measures under Stage-I & II to prevent the implementation of Stage-III actions if the AQI level slips into the ‘Severe’ category.
The Sub-Committee also emphasized that C&D project sites and industrial units with specific closure orders due to violations or non-compliances of statutory directions shall not resume operations without a specific order from the Commission.
The Commission reiterated its call to all responsible agencies and citizens to strictly implement and follow the provisions of GRAP under Stage-I and Stage-II to prevent the re-imposition of Stage-III in NCR.
The Sub-Committee will continue to monitor the air quality scenario closely and make appropriate decisions based on real-time air quality data and forecasts provided by IMD/IITM. The revised schedule of GRAP is available on the Commission’s website.
