Amidst a deteriorating air quality scenario, the central authorities made the decision on Wednesday to defer the enforcement of more stringent measures aimed at curbing pollution in Delhi-NCR. This decision was influenced by forecasts indicating a potential improvement in the situation.
The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi on Wednesday surpassed the 400 mark, a critical level that mandates authorities to implement stricter restrictions under Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), the Centre's air pollution control initiative.
A statement from the CAQM Sub-Committee highlighted that they assessed the air quality situation, meteorological forecasts, and the projected AQI provided by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). Taking into account the forecasts indicating an enhancement in air quality, the Sub-Committee collectively opted to monitor the situation for at least a day before invoking Stage 3 of GRAP.
The ongoing preventive and restrictive measures enacted under Stage 1 and Stage 2 of GRAP will persist, the statement clarified. Stage 3 restrictions involve prohibiting non-essential construction work and the operation of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi-NCR.
Certain exemptions to the ban on construction work include projects related to national security or defense, endeavors of national significance, healthcare, railways, metro rail, airports, interstate bus terminals, highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines, sanitation, and water supply.
GRAP, typically enforced during winter, comprises four stages: Stage I - 'Poor' (AQI 201-300); Stage II - 'Very Poor' (AQI 301-400); Stage III - 'Severe' (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV - 'Severe Plus' (AQI>450).
