The national capital and surrounding NCR region have come under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), effective from Tuesday, November 11, as air quality dipped to the ‘severe’ category once again. The decision was taken by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) after pollution levels spiked across Delhi.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed sharply from 362 on Monday to 425 on Tuesday morning, marking one of the worst readings this season. The move to implement GRAP Stage III comes after continuous public outcry and protests demanding urgent government intervention to curb pollution and safeguard public health.
Under Stage III restrictions, the following measures are now in force across Delhi-NCR:
- Ban on non-essential construction and demolition activities
- Closure of stone crushers and mining operations
- Restrictions on industrial operations using polluting fuels
- Enhanced mechanical road cleaning and water sprinkling to control dust
Authorities said the measures will remain in place until air quality shows consistent improvement. The CAQM has urged citizens to limit outdoor exposure, use public transport whenever possible, and refrain from using private diesel vehicles.
Meanwhile, experts warn that stagnant wind conditions and post-harvest stubble burning across northern states are likely to worsen pollution levels further in the coming days.
Delhi has now entered its fourth spell of ‘severe’ air quality this season, with visibility dropping across major parts of the city.
This is a developing story.
