The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has once again enforced stringent measures, entering stage-3 of the anti-pollution Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) due to a sudden deterioration in air quality in Delhi-NCR. The decision includes restrictions on construction activities and the use of certain vehicles.
Emergency GRAP Activation
In response to the alarming decline in air quality, the CAQM Sub-Committee swiftly convened an emergency meeting, opting for the immediate implementation of an 8-point action plan under Stage-III of GRAP across the entire National Capital Region (NCR).
Weather Conditions Exacerbate Concerns
As Delhi experienced the lowest temperature of the winter at 3.5 degrees Celsius, thick fog blanketed several parts of the city, impacting visibility and contributing to the challenging environmental conditions. The city had already witnessed marginal temperature dips in the preceding days.
Transportation Disruptions
The adverse weather conditions disrupted travel plans, causing delays in over 100 flights at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport. Additionally, Northern Railway reported delays of more than one hour for at least 22 trains.
Air Quality Plummet
Delhi’s air quality reached ‘severe’ levels, marking the first instance this year. The Air Quality Index (AQI) measured at 458 (severe) at 9 am on Sunday, reflecting a significant deterioration from the previous day’s reading of 399 (very poor).
CAQM Measures and Bans
With this stage-3 activation, CAQM has imposed restrictions, prohibiting the movement of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar. The measures also include an immediate halt to private construction activities in Delhi and the NCR.
Challenges on Highways
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert, cautioning commuters on highways to exercise extreme care and utilize fog lights due to dense to very dense fog with coldwave conditions.
Extended Weather Alert
The weather department predicts an orange alert for both Sunday and Monday, anticipating coldwave conditions with dense fog. Maximum temperatures are likely to hover around 18 degrees, while the minimum is expected to be around four degrees on Monday.
Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER
