Delhi Delays GRAP-III Activation as Air Quality Expected to Improve
The CAQM expects the air quality to improve soon. Weather forecasts predict that changes in temperature and wind patterns will help lower pollution levels in the coming days.
The CAQM described the situation as an “episodic event,” caused mainly by unusually dense fog.
On Thursday, Delhi's Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the third phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-III) will not be implemented for now.
This decision was made after a meeting with the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
The CAQM expects the air quality to improve soon. Weather forecasts predict that changes in temperature and wind patterns will help lower pollution levels in the coming days.
GRAP-III is usually activated when the air quality index (AQI) reaches the "severe" category. On Thursday, Delhi’s AQI hit 425. This marked the first time this year that the city saw such hazardous pollution levels.
The CAQM described the situation as an “episodic event,” caused mainly by unusually dense fog..
If GRAP-III had been implemented, stricter measures would have been enforced.
These include halting construction, promoting public transport, and possibly even suspending in-person classes for children up to grade 5.
For now, however, Delhi will stick with the less severe measures outlined in GRAP-II.
Gopal Rai said the recent pollution spike was caused by two main factors.
First, there was a drop in temperatures due to snowfall in the mountains.
Second, the wind speeds slowed down. He hopes that as these conditions change, the air quality in Delhi will improve soon.
