New Delhi: Pollution control authorities on Thursday removed restrictions under Stage 4 of the Delhi-NCR Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) amid improvement in air quality, as per an official order. GRAP 4 was imposed on Wednesday, irrespective of smog and low temperature, which worsened the air quality in the national capital and its surrounding areas, reaching 396, which is in the ‘very poor’ category.
During the Stage 4 measurement, all construction activities remain suspended, and the entry of non-essential polluting trucks is being banned to ply on Delhi roads. Additionally, hybrid classes take place for students except for classes 10 and 12. Besides this, non-essential diesel trucks and older diesel-run heavy goods vehicles registered under BS-IV norms were stripped of their right to enter the city, except for essential services.
The GRAP framework, implemented during winter months in Delhi-NCR, categorizes air quality across 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).
Delhi’s air quality fluctuates from ‘poor’ to ‘very poor,’ and sometimes it touches the ‘severe’ category. Despite all the efforts from the Centre and Delhi government, things are still looking dicey. Residents have to face all kinds of difficulties. Several diseases, such as diabetes, lung infections, and so on, are increasing due to high pollution levels. Authorities are watching the situation minutely, but their efforts have gone futile so far, and it is a big challenge in Delhi-NCR that needs to be solved at the earliest.
