Delhi-NCR air emergency: Stage-III GRAP restrictions imposed as AQI soars to 425; construction and older diesel vehicles banned

PTC Web Desk:  The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Tuesday morning imposed Stage-III restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect, following a sharp deterioration in air quality.

According to the CAQM, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI), which stood at 362 (very poor) on Monday, surged to 425 (severe) by 9 am on Tuesday due to calm wind conditions and a stable atmosphere that trapped pollutants near the surface.

Stage-III measures in force

Under Stage-III of GRAP, several stringent curbs have come into effect in addition to Stage-I and Stage-II measures, which have been active since October 15.

Key restrictions include:

• Ban on non-essential construction and demolition work across Delhi-NCR.
• Closure of brick kilns, hot-mix plants, and stone crushers that are not using clean fuels.
• Ban on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar.
• Prohibition on BS-IV and below diesel medium goods vehicles, except those carrying essential goods or providing emergency services.
• Enhanced mechanised road sweeping and water sprinkling to control road dust.
• Deployment of additional traffic police at major congestion points to ease vehicular pollution.
• Advisory for work-from-home implementation in both government and private offices, wherever possible.

Next Steps: Stage-IV if AQI worsens

The CAQM warned that if the AQI crosses 450, Stage-IV measures (the highest level of GRAP restrictions) will be implemented. This could include a ban on all non-essential commercial vehicles and shutdown of industries that are not powered by clean fuels.

Authorities have urged residents to:

• Avoid private vehicles and use public transport whenever possible.
• Limit outdoor activities, especially for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory illnesses.
• Report pollution violations through the Green Delhi and Sameer mobile apps.

The CAQM stated that it is monitoring air quality on an hourly basis and coordinating with local agencies to ensure full compliance. Governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have been directed to strictly enforce the restrictions to mitigate the crisis.

With toxic haze engulfing the city, experts have warned of worsening health impacts, particularly for vulnerable groups, if weather conditions remain stagnant over the next few days.

- With inputs from agencies

Join Whatsapp Channel