National capital (File – agencies)
NEW DELHI: The commission for air quality management (CAQM) in Delhi-NCR has imposed Stage-I of the graded response action plan (GRAP) after the air quality index (AQI) in the region dropped to 211, categorising it as ‘poor’, according to a statement released by the commission.The move which comes just days ahead of Diwali, follows the latest forecast by the India meteorological department (IMD) and Indian institute of tropical meteorology (IITM), which predict continued poor air quality in the coming days. The sub-committee on GRAP reviewed the air quality situation on Tuesday and decided to implement all measures under Stage-I of the GRAP with immediate effect across the national capital region (NCR). These measures are part of the comprehensive GRAP schedule issued by CAQM on December 13, 2024, following directions from the Supreme Court.The Stage-I actions will be enforced, monitored, and regularly reviewed by relevant agencies to prevent further deterioration of air quality. “All implementing agencies shall keep strict vigil and intensify measures of the extant GRAP schedule,” said RK Agrawal, Director (Technical) and member convenor of the sub-committee on GRAP. Citizens have been urged to follow the citizen charter outlined under GRAP Stage-I.The sub-committee will continue monitoring air quality trends and forecasts from IMD and IITM to make further decisions as needed.