Starting at 8 am on November 18, CAQM activated Stage 4 of the GRAP in Delhi-NCR due to ‘severe plus’ AQI levels.
Delhi’s air quality took a severe hit on Sunday as the majority of its 35 monitoring stations registered AQI levels surpassing 400.
Suspended are the construction and demolition operations related to public infrastructure projects like roads, highways, flyovers, and power lines.
Entry of trucks into Delhi is restricted to only those transporting essential goods or utilizing clean fuels as per the order.
>State governments have been advised to consider closing colleges, restricting non-essential commercial activities, and introducing odd-even vehicle rules.
Delhi’s air quality raises public health concerns
1. Grap-I (AQI 201-300): Advisories, dust control, and bans on open burning.
2. Grap-II (AQI 301-400): Diesel generator restrictions, enhanced cleaning, and road sprinkling.
3. Grap-III (AQI 401-450): Non-essential construction bans, vehicle entry restrictions, and curbs on industrial activity.
4. Grap-IV (AQI above 450): Complete construction halts, school closures, and vehicle limitations.
The Grap sub-committee convened an emergency meeting on November 17 to assess meteorological conditions, forecasts, and air quality trends. With the AQI 441 on Sunday afternoon and peaking at 468 by night, the city logged its fourth ‘severe’ day this month.
