Delhi’s air quality has shown significant improvement, prompting the Centre’s air quality panel to revoke restrictions under Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Friday. This decision comes shortly after Stage 4 restrictions were rolled back due to a decrease in pollution levels across Delhi and the NCR region.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) stated that its sub-committee reviewed the current air quality scenario and forecasts provided by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). Favorable meteorological conditions, including strong winds, are expected to keep Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) in the lower end of the “Very Poor” category in the coming days.
Despite the improvement, construction and demolition activities that were halted due to violations will not be permitted to resume without explicit approval from the Commission. The average AQI in Delhi on Friday was recorded at 289, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), marking a substantial drop from earlier levels.
The GRAP Stage 3 and 4 restrictions were initially imposed on January 15 when Delhi’s AQI surpassed 350 and showed a sharp upward trend, threatening to breach the “Severe” category. The recent improvement is a welcome relief for the region, although air quality continues to require vigilant monitoring.
