AQI improves marginally, Stage III of GRAP revoked in NCR
15 November, 2022 | Pranay Lad
Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is immediately cancelled across the whole NCR due to the recent improvement in the Delhi-overall NCR's air quality.
The Sub-Committee for Invoking GRAP Actions of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) held a meeting today to assess the situation and make the appropriate decision on the actions under Stage III of GRAP, which was in place throughout the entire National Capital Region (NCR), with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi clocking in at 294 today according to the 4 PM AQI Bulletin provided by the Central Pollution Control.
In a thorough review of Delhi-overall NCR’s air quality parameters, the Commission noted that it is advisable to loosen the restrictions and further roll back Stage III of the GRAP with immediate effect throughout the NCR due to the forecast by IMD/ IITM not indicating any steep degradation in the overall air quality of Delhi-NCR in the coming days with AQI likely to stay in the “Poor” category.
In its prior sessions, the GRAP Sub-Committee had called for activities under Stages I, II, III, and IV of the GRAP in the whole NCR on October 5, 2022, October 19, 2022, October 29, 2022, and November 3, 2022, respectively. Additionally, after taking into account the improvement in Delhi’s air quality and the AQI projection for the next few days, the Sub-Committee annulled the measures under Stage IV (‘Severe+’ Air Quality) of GRAP at its review meeting on November 6, 2022.
Since preventive, mitigating, and restrictive actions under all Stages up to Stage III are currently underway, there is a likelihood that the improvement in AQI will continue. The overall AQI of Delhi has been gradually improving from levels of 346 (‘Very Poor’ Air Quality) recorded on November 11, 2022, to 294 (‘Poor’ Air Quality) clocked on November 14, 2022. Additionally, there is no indication of a severe decline in the IMD/IITM prediction.
In order to prevent the AQI levels from slipping further into the “Severe” category, actions under Stages I to Stage II of the GRAP must continue to be invoked, implemented, monitored, and reviewed by all agencies concerned in the NCR. All implementing organisations must exercise extreme caution and particularly step up the measures outlined in Stages I and II of the GRAP, which include the following:
The sub-Committee will be closely monitoring the air quality scenario and taking into account the likelihood of low wind speeds after a few days. They will review the situation on November 18, 2022, and make any additional appropriate decisions based on Delhi’s air quality and the forecast provided by IMD/IITM.