New Delhi: Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) soared to 409, according to the daily AQI Bulletin from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Friday. This sudden decline prompted the Sub-Committee for operationalization of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to convene an emergency meeting.
During the meeting, the Sub-Committee reviewed the region’s air quality scenario, along with meteorological and AQI forecasts provided by IMD/IITM. They noted a concerning upward trend, with Delhi’s average AQI rising progressively throughout the morning: 397 at 10:05 AM, 398 at 12:05 AM, 400 at 1:05 PM, 402 at 2:05 PM, and 405 by 3:05 PM. Unfavorable weather conditions including fog, haze, and low wind speed were identified as major contributors to this spike.
To prevent further deterioration, the Sub-Committee made the immediate decision to re-invoke all actions under Stage III of GRAP (“Severe” Air Quality, AQI between 401-450) across the entire National Capital Region (NCR). This action comes on top of the existing Stage I and II restrictions already in place.
All agencies responsible for implementing GRAP measures, along with NCR Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), have been instructed to ensure strict compliance with Stage III actions alongside those of Stage I and II.
8-Point Action Plan for Immediate Effect:
- Intensify mechanized/vacuum-based road sweeping.
- Implement daily water sprinkling with dust suppressants before peak traffic hours on roads, hotspots, and heavy traffic corridors. Ensure proper disposal of collected dust.
- Further expand public transport services and introduce differential fares to encourage off-peak travel.
Construction and Demolition (C&D) Activities:
- Strict ban on all C&D activities within NCR, except for:
- Railway services/stations & Metro Rail projects
- Airports & Inter-State Bus Terminals
- National security/defense-related projects & projects of national importance
- Hospitals/healthcare facilities
- Linear public projects (highways, roads, flyovers, power infrastructure, pipelines)
- Sanitation projects (sewage treatment plants, water supply)
- Ancillary activities directly supporting the above categories.
- All other C&D activities banned during this period include:
- Earthwork excavation/filling, boring, and drilling
- Structural construction, fabrication, and welding
- Demolition works
- Loading/unloading of construction materials
- Transfer of raw materials (manually or via conveyor belts, including fly ash)
- Vehicle movement on unpaved roads
- Batching plant operation
- Sewer/waterline/drainage/electric cabling work by open trenches
- Cutting/fixing of tiles, stones, and flooring materials
- Grinding and piling activities
- Waterproofing work
- Painting, polishing, and varnishing
- Road construction/repair, including paving of sidewalks/pathways and central verges
- Non-polluting C&D activities like plumbing, electrical, carpentry, and interior furnishing (excluding painting, polishing, and varnishing) may continue for all NCR projects.
Additional Measures:
- Closure of stone crushers and all mining activities in NCR.
- NCR State Governments and GNCTD to impose strict restrictions on plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel LMVs (4-wheelers) in Delhi and Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar.
- State Governments in NCR and GNCTD may consider discontinuing physical classes for children up to Class V and conducting them online.
CAQM urges all NCR residents to cooperate in the effective implementation of GRAP measures. We encourage everyone to:
- Walk or cycle for short distances.
- Choose cleaner commute options like carpooling or public transport.
- Work from home if possible.
- Avoid using coal or wood for heating.
- Provide electric heaters to security staff for winter to avoid open burning.
- Combine errands and reduce unnecessary trips.
The revised GRAP schedule is available on the Commission’s website: https://caqm.nic.in/