Delhi-NCR: AQI improves, authorities lift curbs imposed under GRAP Stage II

Pollution control authorities have revoked curbs enforced in Delhi-National Capital Region under Stage II of Gred Response Action Plan (GRAP) owing to an improvement in air quality in last few days, officials said here.

All actions as envisaged under Stage-I will continue and be implemented in right earnest by all agencies concerned in National Capital Region, y said on Wednesday.

Delhi's overall air quality index (AQI) improved from 291 on February 26 to 178 on March 1, according to an AQI bulletin provided by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

"...forecast by IMD/IITM indicate overall AQI of Delhi to be in 'moderate' category in coming days," Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said in a statement.

In view of this trend of improvement in overall AQI of Delhi-NCR, GRAP Sub-Committee accordingly decided to roll back actions under Stage II of GRAP ('Very Poor' AQI) in entire NCR with immediate effect, CAQM said.

Based on earlier decisions of sub-committee for invoking actions under GRAP order dated October 19, 2022, for invocation of actions under Stage II, was revoked on February 1 this year.

Furr, actions under Stage II of GRAP were re-implemented on February 16 in view of air quality forecasts by IITM/ IMD predicting overall AQI of Delhi to deteriorate from February 17, it said.

commission has vised people to keep engines of ir vehicles properly tuned, maintain proper air pressure in tyres of vehicles, and keep PUC certificates of ir vehicles up to date.