The Delhi government has revoked curbs under Stage IV of GRAP as the air quality level in the national capital improved marginally from ‘severe’ to ‘very poor’ category. The decision was taken by the Commission for Air Quality.
The commission withdrew the restrictions under GRAP Stage IV after it monitored that the Air Quality Index (AQI) did not slip further in the past few days.
Restrictions under Stage IV include the prohibition of polluting vehicles and construction activities in the city.
Earlier in November, the commission banned entry of heavy diesel-based commercial vehicles (LCVs) registered outside Delhi in the national capital region after a Supreme Court directive after the Air Quality Index (AQI) dropped to the ‘Severe+’ category (AQI >450).
However, restrictions under Stages-I to Stage-III of the GRAP shall remain invoked and be implemented, as the current air quality in the Delhi-NCR area stands in the ‘very poor’ category.
The air quality on Saturday stood at 317 at 4 pm, improving from 405 on Friday. Neighbouring Ghaziabad (274), Gurugram (346), Greater Noida (258), Noida (285) and Faridabad (328) also recorded “very poor” to “severe” air quality today.
The relatively better air quality last weekend was attributed to rain. Air pollution levels surged in the following days due to intense firecrackers bursting on Diwali night and a resurgence in stubble burning in the neighbouring states.
These effects were compounded by unfavourable meteorological conditions, primarily calm winds and low temperatures, hindering the dispersion of pollutants.
Recent findings from a joint project by the Delhi government and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur found out that vehicular emissions accounted for about 45 per cent of the capital’s air pollution on Friday.
This reduced to 33 per cent on Saturday. Secondary inorganic aerosols — particles such as sulfate and nitrate that are formed in the atmosphere due to the interaction of gases and particulate pollutants from sources like power plants, refineries and vehicles — are the second major contributor to Delhi’s foul air, accounting for 19 to 36 per cent of the air pollution in the city over the last few days.
Delhi’s air quality dropped over the last few days despite the city government implementing stringent measures, including a ban on construction work and the entry of diesel-guzzling trucks into the national capital.
According to IQAir, a Swiss company that specialises in air-quality monitoring, Delhi was the second-most polluted city in the world on Saturday after Baghdad.
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