Delhi’s air quality has plummeted to the ‘severe’ category once again, triggering Stage-IV restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) announced emergency curbs to combat the alarming pollution spike, driven by stagnant weather, low wind speed, and dense fog.
Key restrictions include a ban on construction activities across Delhi-NCR, suspension of non-essential trucks entering Delhi, and mandatory hybrid learning for schools, except for Classes 10 and 12. CAQM has urged state and central governments to consider work-from-home options to reduce vehicular emissions further.
Vehicles registered under BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel norms are banned from plying in Delhi and its four adjoining NCR districts—Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar. Exceptions have been made for essential services and specially-adapted vehicles for persons with disabilities.
On Monday, Delhi’s AQI touched 401 (severe), up sharply from 294 just a day earlier. Worst-hit areas included Jahangirpuri (466), Anand Vihar (465), and Bawana (465), as dense smog gripped the region. Forecasts suggest pollution will remain severe due to unfavorable meteorological conditions.
“The India Meteorological Department has predicted calm winds combined with high humidity, factors that contribute to stagnation of pollutants,” noted experts, cautioning that relief may not be imminent.
The Supreme Court also weighed in, calling pollution a “pan-India” issue, and sought a list of highly polluted cities from the government. The court emphasized the need for a CAQM-like machinery across all states to tackle the crisis effectively.
