GRAP 4 restrictions removed from Delhi-NCR, air quality improves
There has now been an improvement in pollution in the country’s capital Delhi and NCR. Due to this, the government has removed the restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP 4). The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) announced that despite this improvement, actions under Phases I, II and III will remain in place to ensure that pollution levels do not increase again.
The decision comes after Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) dropped to 369 in the ‘very poor’ category on December 24, much lower than the dangerous ‘severe’ AQI recorded on December 16.
According to forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), favorable weather conditions, such as increased wind speed, played a significant role in spreading the pollutants.
Following Supreme Court directions, Phase IV restrictions were initially imposed on December 16 after AQI levels crossed the critical level of 400. These emergency measures included halting construction activities, restricting industrial operations and banning non-essential trucks from entering the capital to tackle dangerous pollution levels.
The GRAP framework, designed to address the persistent air quality challenges of Delhi-NCR, implements a graded series of actions based on the severity of AQI. While the cancellation of Phase IV measures signals progress, the continuation of the first three phases underlines the fragile nature of the city’s air quality.
Let us tell you that it rained in many areas of the capital today i.e. on Tuesday.
#WATCH Delhi: It rained in many areas of the national capital.
(Video is from Kasturba Gandhi Marg) pic.twitter.com/zzZOvOKhge
— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) December 24, 2024
