Centre's air quality panel for Delhi-NCR invokes GRAP III after sharp rise in pollution levels

NEW DELHI: The Centre's air quality panel for Delhi-NCR invoked the Graded Response Action Plan stage III on Monday after a sharp dip in air quality.
The national capital's air quality stood at 367 at 2 pm and 351 at 9 am, respectively, due to unfavourable meteorological conditions.
"Considering the highly unfavourable meteorological conditions including calm winds and very low mixing height leading the AQI of Delhi into the higher end of the very poor category, the panel's sub-committee on Graded Response Action Plan decides to impose stage 3 of the revised GRAP schedule (issued on Friday) in the entire NCR, with immediate effect," an official order said.
Under the revised guidelines, schools and colleges in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar are required to shift classes up to Class V to a hybrid learning model under GRAP stage III.
Where online education facilities exist, students and their parents will have the choice to opt for virtual learning.
The stage 3 restrictions also prohibit non-essential diesel-powered medium goods vehicles with BS-IV or older standards from operating within Delhi. Additionally, non-essential diesel light commercial vehicles meeting BS-IV or older standards registered outside Delhi are barred from entering the city.
These restrictions mark an expansion from earlier regulations, which only applied to BS-III vehicles.
Earlier on December 5, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for Delhi-NCR revoked restrictive pollution control measures under stages 3 and 4 of the winter anti-pollution plan. The regulations were lowered to stage 2 of the GRAP, which implements moderate restrictions, including prohibiting the usage of coal and firewood in industrial facilities and commercial establishments, such as restaurants.