New Delhi: From Wednesday, you could take out your diesel Innova on the roads of Delhi and NCR. On Tuesday, the Commission for Air Quality Management revoked Stage-IV of Graded Response Action Plan or GRAP-IV. On Tuesday, Delhi’s daily average Air Quality Index (AQI) clocked 369 which improved to 364 at 5 pm and further improved to 361 at 6 pm. In view of significant improvement in the average air quality of Delhi, the Sub-Committee on Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) met on Tuesday to review the current air quality scenario in the region as well as the forecasts for meteorological conditions and air quality index made available by IMD/ IITM and also take an appropriate call on the stringent actions under Stage-IV of GRAP already in place in the entire National Capital Region (NCR) since 16.12.2024. While comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality parameters of Delhi-NCR, the Sub-Committee observed that Delhi’s daily average AQI improved and doed not indicate any degradation in the overall air quality of Delhi in the coming days.
Therefore, keeping in view the prevailing trend of air quality and forecasts for meteorological conditions and air quality index made available by IMD/ IITM and also the disruptive nature of restrictive actions under Stage-IV of GRAP impacting a large number of stakeholders and public at large, the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP unanimously decides to revoke Stage-IV of revised GRAP in the entire NCR, with immediate effect. Actions under Stages III, II & I of revised GRAP shall however remain invoked and be strictly implemented, monitored and reviewed by all agencies concerned in the entire NCR to ensure that the AQI levels do not slip further to the ‘Severe’/ ‘Severe +’ category.
Meanwhile, various agencies responsible for implementing measures under GRAP including Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of NCR and DPCC have also been advised to ensure strict implementation and intensification of actions under Stages III, II & I of revised GRAP in the entire NCR.
While GRAP Stage-IV is being revoked, keeping in view the winter season when weather conditions may not be always favorable and in order to ensure that the AQI levels do not slip further, citizens are requested to strictly adhere to the Citizen Charter under Stages III, II & I of GRAP.
The Sub-Committee, shall be keeping a close watch on the air quality scenario and review the situation from time to time for further appropriate decision depending upon the air quality scenario in Delhi and forecast made available by IMD/ IITM. The comprehensively revised GRAP schedule can be accessed from the Commission’s official website, i.e., https://caqm.nic.in
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