Delhi air pollution: Centre lifts Stage IV measures under GRAP as air quality improves
1 min read . Updated: 06 Nov 2022, 06:53 PM IST
PremiumDelhi's air pollution levels ameliorated marginally to the lower end of the very poor category
With Delhi's air quality improving slightly, Centre's air quality panel on Sunday lifts curbs imposed under the final stage of the air pollution action plan only three days after it came into force.
On Thursday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) decided to implement measures under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) -- a set of anti-pollution measures followed in the national capital and its vicinity, according to the severity of the situation -- in view of the worsening air quality in Delhi-NCR.
On Sunday, the air pollution levels improved slightly due to favourable wind speed and a drop in the contribution of stubble burning. However, it is still at the lower end of the "very poor" category
The 24-hour average air quality index stood at 339 at 4 pm, dropping from 381 a day ago. It was 447 on Friday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. It had jumped to 450 on Thursday, just a notch short of the 'severe plus' category.
Today's Commission for Air Quality Management order reads, "The forecast by IMD/ IITM also does not indicate any steep degradation further."
GRAP stage IV is a stage of disruptive restrictions that impacts a large number of stakeholders and the public at large. There are no stricter measures, than as laid in GRAP Stage-IV, that could be taken to improve upon the air quality scenario, the commission said.
"The sub-committee, accordingly, hereby decides to revoke the order, issued vide dated November 3, 2022, for actions under Stage-IV of GRAP with immediate effect," it said.
The number of farm fires in Punjab dropped sharply to 599 from 2,817 a day ago, data from the Indian Agricultural Research Organisation (IARI) showed.
According to Safar, a forecasting agency under the Ministry of Earth and Sciences, the share of stubble burning in Delhi's PM2.5 pollution also declined to 18 per cent from 21 per cent on Saturday.
(With inputs from agencies)
