Delhi-NCR GRAP-III Imposed as AQI Hits 382 Before Diwali

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) imposed Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-III) across Delhi-NCR on Friday, 6 November, after Delhi’s Air Quality Index reached 382, in the “very poor” band, at 4 pm on Thursday. The commission acted because air quality was worsening just before Diwali, and forecasts show no relief, according to a PTI report.

Construction Curbs Across the NCR

Under Stage 3, strict limits apply to dust-generating and polluting construction and demolition work across the entire National Capital Region. Contractors, builders and site workers in Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad are the most directly affected.

The NCR state governments and the Delhi government now have to decide whether public, municipal and private offices should run at 50 per cent strength, with the rest working from home. The reports do not say what has been decided. Nothing in the PTI report covers school timings.

Also read Delhi Pollution Curbs From 1 November: No PUC No Fuel, Construction Ban

Third Stage in One Season

This is the third stage invoked this season. IPB News reported GRAP-I at an AQI of 244 and GRAP-II curbs at an AQI of 331 earlier. Our morning weather report put the AQI at 367, with a western disturbance expected on 10 November. More coverage is under the Delhi air pollution tag.

Severe Air Forecast From 7 November

The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, forecasts “very poor” air on 6 November and “severe” conditions from 7 to 9 November. It expects “severe” to “very poor” levels for the six days after that. Diwali falls inside this window, and firecracker smoke is a known added load on the air.

Stage 4 is the next step if the AQI worsens further. CAQM has not announced one.

Source: Based on reporting by ETV Bharat (PTI) and UNI.

Image: IANS.