In continuation to what we reported earlier (please refer to e-mails in trail for reference), CAQM (“Commission for Air Quality and Management”) has issued an Order dated 18th November, 2023, revoking actions under Stage IV (‘Severe+’ Air Quality) of the revised Graded Response Action Plan (“GRAP”).
Background:
CAQM in NCR and adjoining areas, through its Direction dated 6th October, 2023, issued statutory direction for implementation of the revised schedule of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect as and when orders under GRAP are invoked. The Sub-Committee for invoking actions under the GRAP in its earlier meetings had invoked actions under Stage I, Stage II, Stage III and Stage IV of the GRAP on 6th October 2023, 21st October 2023, 2nd November 2023 and 5th November 2023, respectively.
Current Directions:
The sub-Committee in its meeting held on November 18, 2023, further reviewed the air quality scenario in the region as well as the IMD/IITM forecasts for meteorological conditions and air quality index of Delhi and observed as follows:
- As the present AQI level of Delhi is around 322 (Very Poor) recorded at 2:00 PM which is about 128 AQI points below the threshold for invoking the GRAP Stage-IV actions, when the AQI was > 450, there is a likelihood of sustaining improvement in the AQI further to the measures implemented under Stage IV GRAP.
- The forecast by IMD/ IITM also do not indicate any steep degradation further.
- In light of the above, the sub-committee decides to revoke the Stage IV of the GRAP and mandates continuation of actions under Stage I to Stage III of the GRAP in the entire NCR to ensure that the AQI levels do not slip further to the ‘Severe’/ ‘Severe +’ category, which will be subject to monitoring and review by concerned agencies.
Source: The Commission for Air Quality and Management in National Capital Region
