Delhi woke up to the worst air quality of this season as the air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 484 at 9 am on Monday. Smog covered the national capital in the morning hours and the visibility at Palam dropped to 150 metres at 7 am.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked stricter pollution control measures for the Delhi-NCR under Stage 4 of the anti-pollution plan Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which comes into effect from 8 am.
GRAP Stage 4 Implemented In Delhi
The GRAP for Delhi-NCR is divided into four stages of air quality — Stage 1 for ‘poor’ (AQI) ranging between 201 and 300, Stage 2 for “very poor” AQI of 301-400, Stage 3 for “severe” AQI of 401-450 and Stage 4 for “severe plus” AQI more than 450. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’. These are the restrictions which are suggested in different stages.
As per the Commission for Air Quality Management’s order, no trucks will be allowed into Delhi except for those carrying essential items or using clean fuel (LNG/CNG/BS-VI diesel/electric). Non-essential light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi will also be prohibited, except for EVs and CNG and BS-VI diesel ones.
Delhi-registered BS-IV or older diesel medium and heavy goods vehicles are banned, except for those in essential services, the panel said. All construction activities, including highways, roads, flyovers, power lines, pipelines and other public projects, have been suspended.
The panel has suggested online teaching for the students of Classes 6 to 9 and Class 11. It also recommended that offices in the National Capital Region (NCR) work at 50 per cent capacity, with the rest working from home. Work-from-home options may be introduced for central government employees, the panel said.
