New Delhi: With the air quality in the city deteriorating to the “very poor” category, the Centre’s Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Friday decided to continue all the restrictions under Stage-III Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The curbs include ban on private construction and plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel cars.
CAQM stated that with the current wind direction being northwesterly, the intrusion of stubble smoke from Punjab and Haryana would likely to intensify, requiring the restrictions to continue to avoid more emission sources in the city. It said the air quality index (AQI) has been showing an increasing trend for the past two days in Delhi-NCR, while the wind conditions had not been favourable for the dispersion of air pollutants.
“Considering the significant spike in Delhi’s overall AQI from 260 to 346 in the past two days, the northwesterly wind flow being conducive to increase the impact of farm fires on the AQI of Delhi and the need to continue with the steps to prevent deterioration of air quality, the sub-committee for invoking actions under Graded Response Action Plan has taken the decision that ongoing actions implemented under Stage III of GRAP… should not be withdrawn at this stage,” CAQM stated, adding that the sub-committee is closely watching the situation.
Earlier, CAQM stated internal construction work, including painting, polishing and varnishing, would also be deemed banned under GRAP-III.
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