Days to go for Diwali, the air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region has dropped drastically, invoking the GRAP-II (Graded Response Action Plan) rules.
The Commission for Air Quality Management or CAQM has invoked the Stage-II restrictions across the entire NCR with immediate effect after Delhi’s average AQI (Air Quality Index) rose to 324 today, placing it in the “Very Poor” category.
It also bans use of coal and firewood in roadside eateries and commercial tandoors and restricts the use of diesel generator. The GRAP-I rules were imposed on October 21 when the AQI was 244. GRAP 1 measures entail promoting the use of public transport, checking PUC (Pollution Under Control) certificates, barring diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years.
But the pollution may turn out worse this year owing to the El Nino effect that disrupts weather patterns across the world. El Nino, particularly, is known to increase pollution. Manoj Kumar, analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, said the mean AQI rose from 280 in winter 2022-23 to 304 in 2023-24. It dropped to 285 the next year and rose to 295 in 2025-26.
