Delhi Gasps For Breath as Air Quality Remains 'Severe', Primary Schools Shut, GRAP-III Curbs Imposed

New Delhi: Amid rising air pollution levels in the national capital and its adjoining areas, including Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Faridabad, residents continue to grapple with the thick toxic smog, prompting authorities to take strict measure to combat the health emergency.

As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), air quality in the city breached the “severe” category with Anand Vihar registering the AQI at 441 on Friday. The air quality in the city remained in the :severe" category for the third consecutive day on Friday. The city's 24-hour Air Quality Index (AQI), recorded at 4pm every day, was recorded at 424, up from 418 on Wednesday. On Friday as well, a thick layer of smog enveloped the city, reducing visibility and disrupting traffic.

Out of Delhi’s 39 monitoring stations, 27 loged air quality in the "severe" zone. These stations include Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Aya Nagar, Bawana, Dwarka Sector 8, IGI Airport, ITO, Jahangirpuri, Mandir Marg, Mundka, Najafgarh, Narela, Nehru Nagar, North Campus, Patparganj and Punjabi Bagh.

Delhi Schools to Shift to Online Mode

In the wake of a health emergency, the Delhi government has ordered the school in the city to shift to online learning mode to ensure safety for school children. As per the order, physical classes for primary schools will not be conducted until further orders, but online classes can continue.

GRAP-III Curbs Imposed

The rising air pollution level also triggered the implementation of third stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The restrictions came into force at 8am on Friday.

GRAP is a set of emergency measures to combat air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region. The measure is brought into force by the commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) when the Air Quality Index (AQI) surpasses a certain level, trigerring a health emergency.

The GRAP for Delhi-NCR is divided into four stages of air quality -- Stage 1 for "poor" Air Quality Index (AQI) ranging between 201 and 300, Stage 2 for "very poor" AQI of 301-400, Stage 3 for "severe" AQI of 401-450 and Stage 4 for "severe plus" AQI (more than 450).

What is Restricted Under GRAP 3?

• Construction and demolition activities will be halted
• Non-essential mining activities to be suspended
• Non-electric, non-CNG, and non-BS-VI diesel interstate buses will face restrictions

In view of the implementation of GRAP-III, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said 20 additional trips (in addition to 40 already in place since GRAP-II was implemented) will be inducted into services on weekdays, starting Friday, November 15.

The air quality in Delhi had been in the "very poor" category since October 30 and the city's air quality plunged into the “severe” category for the first time this season on Wednesday.