New Delhi, Dec 17 || In the wake of deteriorating air quality in Delhi on Monday night, the Commission for Air Quality (CAQM) was forced to reimpose GRAP 4 restrictions in the entire Delhi-NCR, with immediate effect.
Delhi's average air quality index (AQI) rose to 399 at 9 p.m. on Monday and breached the 400 mark at 10 p.m.
The air quality plummeted to 'Severe+' category and hence, the decision to reintroduce Stage IV of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was taken in an emergency meeting.
Issuing a statement, CAQM said, "In pursuance of the Supreme Court's directives, the Sub-Committee hereby invokes the Stage-IV of the Schedule under the GRAP, as comprehensively revised and issued on December 13, 2024, with immediate effect. The actions under Stage-IV shall be over and above the actions under Stages III, II and I, already in force."
The order cited the Supreme Court order, where the apex court had said that if the Commission finds AQI breaching 350 mark, Stage-III measures should be implemented and if the AQI crosses 400 then Stage-IV measures must be reintroduced.
Earlier GRAP-III restrictions were reimposed in the entire NCR as AQI breached the 350-mark amid "highly unfavourable meteorological conditions" and "other factors for dispersion of the pollutants".