Delhi’s air quality deteriorated sharply on Sunday morning, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) slipping into the ‘severe’ category at 483 at 8:10 am, as several parts of the national capital recorded pollution levels above 400, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The worsening air quality comes after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Friday invoked Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR, two days ahead of Diwali, amid concerns over further deterioration in pollution levels.
All these areas fell under the ‘severe’ category. With Stage III measures in force following the CAQM’s decision, existing restrictions will continue alongside additional pollution-control measures, increased enforcement and directions to concerned agencies to prevent further deterioration in air quality. The emergency action plan applies across Delhi and adjoining districts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. It is invoked as a precautionary measure based on meteorological and pollution forecasts provided by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), allowing restrictions to be implemented before citywide AQI levels reach the ‘severe’ category.
Bawana recorded an AQI of 446, followed by Punjabi Bagh at 449, RK Puram at 448, IIT Delhi and Rohini at 445 each, Chandni Chowk at 420, Patparganj at 421 and Alipur at 413, according to CPCB data. The air quality around India Gate was recorded at 398, categorised as ‘very poor’, while the area around Akshardham Temple registered an AQI of 336, also falling under the ‘very poor’ category, according to CPCB data.
The activation of Stage III introduces additional high-impact measures aimed at curbing vehicular emissions and dust pollution, operating alongside the existing Stage I and Stage II restrictions. Earlier reporting noted: Delhi continued to grapple with hazardous air quality on Saturday morning, with the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) standing at 364 at 8 am, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
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Earlier reporting noted: With Stage-III measures now in force, the existing curbs will continue alongside additional measures, including stricter pollution-control steps.
