Delhi-NCR enters GRAP-II as AQI hits 324
The Commission for Air Quality Management has invoked Stage-II restrictions across the National Capital Region after air quality reached the very poor category.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked Stage-II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the entire National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect. This follows a sharp rise in Delhi's average Air Quality Index (AQI), which reached 324 on Monday, according to reports by The Pioneer and Times of India.
The AQI of 324, recorded at 4 pm on November 2, marks the city's first 'very poor' air quality episode this season and is the highest level in nine months. At the same time, three monitoring stations reported 'severe' pollution, with Jahangirpuri recording the highest AQI of 436, followed by Rohini at 415 and Punjabi Bagh at 413.
The CAQM stated that the rise in pollution is due to unfavourable meteorological conditions. The sub-committee decided to implement Stage-II actions to prevent further deterioration of air quality. GRAP-II measures include mechanical or vacuum sweeping of roads, water sprinkling, increasing the frequency of Metro services and electric buses, and raising parking fees to discourage personal vehicle use.
Enforcement of vehicle restrictions has caused massive traffic snarls at interstate borders, including Delhi-Gurugram, Delhi-Noida, and Delhi-Ghaziabad. At the Aya Nagar border, enforcement teams turned back vehicles that did not meet BS-VI emission standards. The Delhi High Court previously refused to stay a decision to bar non-Delhi-registered vehicles that do not meet BS-VI standards from entering the capital between November 1 and January 31.
The Decision Support System for Delhi estimated that the transport sector contributed 19.2 per cent to the city's pollution. Other contributors include stubble burning at 8.4 per cent, residential activities at 4.9 per cent, and industries at 4.2 per cent.