The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reimposed Stage 4 restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) on Monday, citing a sharp rise in air pollution levels.
These Stage 4 measures came into effect just hours after the imposition of Stage 3 restrictions in the capital. The newly enforced restrictions include a ban on all construction and demolition activities, including public projects such as highways and flyovers, as well as a halt on the entry of trucks carrying non-essential goods into Delhi.
By 4 pm, the national capital’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 379, which escalated to above 400 by 10 pm due to calm winds and a buildup of the inversion layer that hampered vertical air mixing.
Earlier this month, on December 5, the Supreme Court had allowed the CAQM to relax the stringent Stage 4 GRAP restrictions to Stage 2, following a temporary improvement in air quality.
GRAP 4 SOPs for Schools in Delhi-NCR
Under the current Stage 4 restrictions, the CAQM has mandated that schools in Delhi and NCR conduct classes in a hybrid mode (both physical and online) for students in classes VI to IX and XI. The NCR State Governments have been encouraged to adopt this hybrid model for students in other regions of the NCR, where feasible.
Cold Wave Conditions Persist
The national capital recorded a minimum temperature of 4.5°C on Monday, which is 4.1°C below the normal temperature. This marks the fourth time in December that the temperature has dropped below 5°C, with cold wave conditions reported in areas like Pusa, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The IMD has forecast that Tuesday will see continued cold wave conditions, with maximum and minimum temperatures expected to be around 24°C and 5°C, respectively.
The combination of rising pollution levels and ongoing cold weather has triggered serious health and environmental concerns in the region.
