Residents of the national capital woke up to a thick layer of smog on Friday. The air quality in Delhi has worsened to land in the severe category for the first time this year.
The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining areas (CAQM) invoked Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) stage III on November 02, 2023.
The CAQM order reads as “Keeping in view the prevailing trend of air quality, in an effort to prevent
further deterioration of the air quality, the sub-committee decided that ALL actions as envisaged under stage III of the GRAP -‘Severe’ Air Quality (DELHI AQI ranging between 401-450) be implemented in right earnest by all the agencies concerned in the NCR, with immediate effect, in addition to the stage
I and II actions already in force.”
In its order, it has stated in details the activities banned under the GRAP Stage III implementation. It has also urged citizens to adhere to the citizen charter and assist in the effective implementation of the GRAP measures aimed towards sustaining and improving the Air Quality in the region, as under:
- Walk or use cycles for small distances
- Choose a cleaner commute. Share a ride to work or use public transport.
- People, whose positions allow working from home, may work from home.
- Do not use coal and wood for heating purpose
- Individual house owners may provide electric heaters (during winters) to security staff to avoid open burning
- Combine errands and reduce trips
Looking into the worsening pollution levels, Delhi Government has directed the closure of schools for students in Classes 5 and below for two days on Friday and Saturday i.e. 03rd and 04th November 2023.
The pollution levels worsened on Thursday after Delhi recorded a 24-hour average AQI of 392 just short of the severe mark at 4pm. The average AQI barrelled up to 427 just before midnight. Mundka (453) and Anand Vihar (449) topped the charts.
Greater Noida was on Thursday the worst off across the National Capital Region (NCR) with an AQI reading of 402 (severe) at 4pm. The AQIs in Gurugram and Ghaziabad were in the poor category at 297 and 286.
