The Commission for Air Quality Management today lifted the restrictions under stage one of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region.
The decision came after the air quality of Delhi improved considerably in the last few days due to the favorable meteorological conditions prevailing in Delhi-NCR. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the AQI of Delhi today has been recorded at 151 in the Moderate category.
The pollution emergency action plan, in effect in the city for nearly five months, was marred by regular invocation and revocation of restrictive measures, particularly affecting the transport sector, construction and demolition and educational institutes.
Delhi’s average air quality index, on a scale of 0 to 500, was 156 (moderate) on Monday against 125 on Sunday and 126 on Saturday. GRAP Stage I is imposed when AQI exceeds the 200 mark. “AQI improved considerably in the last few days due to the favourable meteorological conditions prevailing in Delhi-NCR, such as an increased mixing height and higher ventilation coefficient,” CAQM said.
“Keeping in view this trend and the forecasts indicating the average air quality to stay in the ‘moderate’ category in the coming days, CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP unanimously decided to revoke Stage I of GRAP in NCR with immediate effect,” the air monitoring panel said while asking state govts in the neighbourhood to work to ensure AQI did not slip back into the ‘poor’ category.