CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP revokes Stage-III of the extant schedule of GRAP in the entire NCR with immediate effect.

 

CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP revokes Stage-III of the extant schedule of GRAP in the entire NCR with immediate effect


All actions under Stages II & I of the extant schedule of GRAP shall however remain invoked and be implemented, intensified, monitored and reviewed by all agencies concerned in the entire NCR to ensure that the AQI levels do not

 17 JAN 2025  Delhi (prajaamaravati);

In pursuance of the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the Sub-Committee on Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) vide its order dated 15.01.2025 invoked GRAP Stage-III & IV when the average AQI of Delhi breached the 350 mark on 15.01.2025 and started to exhibit a sharp increasing trend, indicating a possibility to even breach the 400 mark.

Upon improvement in AQI of Delhi on 16.01.2025 to a level of 302, the Sub-Committee revoked Stage-IV. However, only as a matter of precaution, considering the uncertainties in the model predictions and abrupt fluctuations in the meteorological factors, Stage-III of GRAP was continued and it was decided that the situation will be reviewed subsequently.

Today, Delhi’s average AQI has significantly improved as the AQI of the day clocked 289 today as per the AQI Bulletin provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), clearly indicating a downward trend. In view of this trend of improvement in the average AQI of Delhi, the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP met today to review the current air quality scenario in the region as well as the forecasts for meteorological conditions and air quality index made available by IMD/ IITM and accordingly take an appropriate call on the preventive/ restrictive actions under Stage-III of GRAP in place in the entire National Capital Region (NCR) since 15.01.2025.

While comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality parameters of Delhi-NCR, the Sub-Committee observed as under:

  • AQI of Delhi has been continuously improving and has been recorded as 289 (“Very Poor”) on 17.01.2025, which is about 61 AQI points below the benchmark as directed for by the Hon’ble Supreme Court for invoking Stage-III.
  • As per the Air Quality & Weather forecast provided by IMD/ IITM, there is a likelihood of the AQI of Delhi to remain in the lower end of ‘Very Poor’ category in the coming days owing to favourable meteorological conditions and strong wind speeds.

Therefore, keeping in view the disruptive nature of restrictions under Stage-III of GRAP impacting a large number of stakeholders and public as well as considering the trend of improvement in the average AQI of Delhi and also the forecasts by IMD/ IITM indicating the likelihood of the overall air quality of Delhi to stay in the lower end ‘Very Poor’ category in the coming days, the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP today unanimously decided to revoke all actions under Stage-III of the extant schedule of GRAP in the entire NCR, with immediate effect.

Further, all actions under Stages II & I of the extant schedule of GRAP shall however remain invoked and be implemented, monitored and reviewed by all agencies concerned in the entire NCR. Agencies shall keep strict vigil and especially intensify measures under Stages II & I of the extant schedule of GRAP in order to obviate the need for re-implementation of Stage-III of GRAP actions in NCR.

Construction & Demolition project sites etc. which have been issued specific closure orders on account of violations/ non-compliances of various statutory directions, rules, guidelines etc. under no circumstances shall resume their operations without any specific order to this effect from the Commission.

While GRAP Stage-III is being revoked, keeping in view the winter season when weather conditions may not be always favorable and in order to ensure that the AQI levels do not slip further, citizens are requested to strictly adhere to the citizen charter.

The Sub-Committee, shall keep a close watch on the air quality scenario and review the situation from time to time for further appropriate decisions depending upon the air quality in Delhi and forecast for meteorological conditions and air quality index made available by IMD/ IITM.

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