Commission tightens Air Quality Management Authorities, Emergency measures need to be followed:

Delhi Pollution

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has made the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for Delhi–NCR stricter and put some pollution-control measures into force earlier than usual to stop the air quality in the area from getting worse.

After talking with stakeholders, the new plan, which was finalized on November 21, transfers several tasks from the high-alert level to lower phases. This means that limitations will now be put in place sooner, as soon as the Air Quality Index (AQI) starts to drop.

All agencies tasked with executing GRAP in the NCR have been instructed to be aware of the changes made in the updated GRAP Schedule and to implement them promptly in the region, according to the CAQM.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classifies an AQI of 0-50 as good, 51-100 as satisfactory, 101-200 as moderate, 201-300 as poor, 301-400 as very poor, and 401-500 as severe. In response to worsening air quality, the Delhi government announced yesterday that all schools and colleges should delay their physical sports events planned for November and December.

So far, the CAQM has instructed the Delhi government and the state governments of NCR to coordinate the timings for public offices and municipal bodies in the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar during Stage 3 of GRAP, but this will now be implemented under Stage 2 of GRAP. Stage 3 is declared when the AQI of Delhi falls between 401 and 450. In a similar manner, Stage 2 is activated when the AQI of Delhi ranges from 301 to 400.

Ms. Gupta stated that the Delhi government is actively implementing robust and effective strategies to enhance air quality. “All Ministers, public officials, and government representatives are persistently overseeing cleaning and sanitation initiatives. Significant advancements are being made towards transitioning Delhi’s public transport system to electric power, and by the end of 2026, all buses operated by the Delhi government will be electric,” she noted.