New Delhi: Pollution levels have dipped in Delhi; seeing the improvement, the Supreme Court on Thursday gave the green signal to ease the severe Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) Stage 4 in NCR; instead, the Grap-2 measure will be continued. In fact, the apex court made it clear that if AQI exceeds 350, then Grap-3 is to be imposed, and if it crosses 400 marks, then Grap-4 should be implemented with immediate effect in the national capital.
Grap-4 was implemented in NCR on November 18 when air pollution touched the ‘severe plus’ category and AQI crossed 450. Fortunately, AQI has been on the trend to improve for the last 18 days. The ongoing wind has proved a boon for the Delhiites as it has helped a lot in dropping the pollution levels in the last couple of days. Despite the regular improvement, the court had turned down the appeal to give relaxation in Grap-4 and had said it would do so only when there was a steady downward trend in pollution levels.
Noting that AQI had continuously improved in the last few days, a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih allowed the plea of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for relaxation. Appearing for CAQM, additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati told the SC bench that pollution had come down and that restrictions imposed under Grap-4 were devastating for many people.
The AQI of Delhi consistently remained above 300 till November 30; the pollution levels have come down dramatically since the beginning of December. The NCR experienced Grap-4 restrictions for 18 days. During this period, construction work was officially banned, and goods trucks were not allowed to ferry; schools shifted to online mode. NCR residents have got a respite amid relaxation in Grap-4.
