Delhi chokes: AQI hits ‘severe-plus’ despite GRAP restrictions

Delhi recorded another day of hazardous air on Wednesday, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to 442 in the ‘severe’ category by 7 a.m. At 21 of the 37 monitoring stations, AQI levels breached the ‘severe-plus’ category. Nehru Nagar (480), Anand Vihar (481), and Alipur (471) reported the highest pollution levels.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classifies AQI above 450 as ‘severe-plus,’ indicating extremely unhealthy air quality. Experts attribute the spike to low wind speeds, which trap pollutants closer to the ground.

In response, authorities reinstated Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Monday night. This includes strict measures such as a complete ban on construction, demolition, and the entry of non-essential trucks into the city.

Offices must reduce on-site staff by 50%, and further restrictions, like odd-even vehicle rules and closures of non-essential businesses, remain under consideration.

Delhi faces such pollution crises every winter due to a mix of unfavorable weather, vehicle emissions, paddy-straw burning, and firecracker use. Doctors warn that breathing the city’s air under these conditions is akin to smoking 10 cigarettes daily.

GRAP, introduced to manage pollution, categorizes AQI into four stages. Stage IV, invoked for the first time this season in November, was briefly relaxed in early December when air quality improved. However, the current spike forced its reimplementation.

Delhi residents continue to endure worsening air quality as efforts to mitigate pollution struggle against challenging meteorological conditions.