
Delhi air pollution: GRAP-4 curbs were revoked in Delhi-NCR on Thursday amid decreasing pollution levels. The Centre's panel on Delhi-NCR's air quality evoked curbs under stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) according to an official order.
The curbs were imposed Wednesday as calm winds, low temperatures and foggy conditions allowed accumulation of pollutants in the region, with the air quality index clocking 396 last evening.
What does GRAP-4 curb mean?
Stage 4 curbs include a ban on all construction activities, entry of non-essential polluting trucks into Delhi, and mandatory shifting of school classes, except for classes 10 and 12, to hybrid mode. Non-essential diesel trucks are prohibited from entering Delhi, while Delhi-registered BS-IV and older diesel-run heavy goods vehicles are banned, except for essential services under Stage 4.
During winters, the Delhi-NCR region enforces restrictions under GRAP, which categorizes air quality into four stages – Stage 1 (Poor, AQI 201-300), Stage 2 (Very Poor, AQI 301-400), Stage 3 (Severe, AQI 401-450), and Stage 4 (Severe Plus, AQI above 450).
Unfavourable meteorological conditions, combined with vehicle emissions, paddy-straw burning, firecrackers, and other local pollution sources, lead to hazardous air quality levels in Delhi-NCR during winters.
Delhi weather update
Delhi witnessed clear skies on Thursday following rainfall, with the minimum temperature settling at 10.3 degrees Celsius which is 2.7 notches above normal, officials said. The city registered a minimum temperature of 10.3 degrees Celsius, 2.7 degrees above normal, with humidity levels fluctuating between 74 and 100 per cent during the day.
The maximum temperature settled at 19.6 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the season. The IMD has forecast partly cloudy skies for Friday. Smog and dense fog are likely in most areas during the morning, with very dense fog in isolated pockets. Shallow fog or smog may persist in the evening and night.
(With PTI inputs)