The authorities have decided to impose GRAP IV in Delhi-NCR hours after GRAP III in view of the rising air pollution levels in the city. The Air Quality Index (AQI) levels have gone past 400 in Delhi as the pollution chokes the capital and the NCR region. The decision was taken by the Commission for Air Quality Management as the pollution levels reached the severe category.
This came hours after the authorities had imposed GRAP III in the capital due to the rising pollution levels. As per the official data, the AQI level has dipped from 431 at around 4 pm to 441 by 6 pm, with fears of the AQI level dropping further below to "Severe+" threshold.
As per air quality standards, an AQI of 51 to 100 is considered satisfactory, 101 to 200 moderate, 201 to 300 poor, 301 to 400 very poor, and levels above 400 fall in the severe category. Meanwhile, Severe-plus levels are defined when the AQI levels go beyond 450.
The capital continues to stay under the blanket of smog with AQI levels at an alarming high. The AQI stood at 488 around the Anand Vihar area in the evening on Saturday.
What is not allowed in GRAP IV
- Stop entry of truck traffic into Delhi (except for trucks carrying essential commodities providing essential services, all LNG/ CNG / Eleclrid BS-VI Diesel trucks) shall, however, be permitted to enter Delhi.
- Do not permit LCVS registered outside Delhi, other than EVs / CNG / BS-VI diesel, to enter Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities / providing essential services.
- Enforce a strict ban on plying of Delhi-registered BS-IV and below diesel-operated Medium Goods Vehicles (MGVs) and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) in Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities / providing essential services.
- Ban C&D activities, as in the GRAP Stage-lll, also for linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines, tele-communication, etc.
- NCR State Govts. and GNCTD may take a decision on discontinuing physical classes even for classes Vl - lX, class Xl and conduct lessons in an online mode.
- NCR State Governments / GNCTD to take a decision on allowing public, municipal and private offices to work at 50% strength and the rest to work from home.The
- Central Government may take an appropriate decision on permitting work from home for employees in central government offices.
- State Governments may consider additional emergency measures like closure of colleges/educational institutions and closure of non-emergency commercial activities, permitting running of vehicles on an odd-even basis of registration numbers, etc.
