The Commission, however, directs all agencies concerned of the State Govts. / GNCTD in the NCR to ensure that all statutory directions, advisories, orders etc. issued by CAQM are followed and implemented in earnest, in an effort to sustain better AQI levels as being experienced currently

Rules / regulations / guidelines issued by MoEF&CC and CPCB and related instructions/ guidelines issued by the respective State Govts. / GNCTD and Pollution Control Boards / DPCC across all contributing sectors to also be followed strictly

 

Today at 4PM, Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) clocked 159 as per the AQI Bulletin provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). In view of the significant and sustained improvement in the overall AQI of Delhi over past days and also considering the meteorological/ weather forecasts by IITM/ IMD, the Sub-Committee for invoking actions under Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) met today to review the current air quality scenario in the region and accordingly take an appropriate decision on the actions under Stage-I of GRAP in place in the entire National Capital Region (NCR) since 06.10.2023. While comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality parameters of Delhi-NCR and other aspects, the Sub-Committee noted that:

 

• The average AQI of Delhi has improved considerably in last few days to the ‘Moderate’ category recording less than 200 index value consistently since 22nd February, 2024 onwards. The forecast by IMD/ IITM also predict the average AQI levels to be in 'Moderate' category in coming days.

 

Therefore, keeping in view this trend of improvement in the overall AQI of Delhi and also the forecasts by IMD/ IITM not indicating the average air quality of Delhi slipping to ‘Poor’ category in the coming days (for which forecast is available), the Sub-Committee for operationalization of actions under GRAP unanimously decided to revoke Stage-I of GRAP in the entire NCR with immediate effect.

Based on earlier decisions of the Sub-Committee, different stages of GRAP have been invoked and further revoked from time to time based on the air quality scenario along with weather/ meteorological forecasts provided by IITM/ IMD. GRAP Stage-IV, Stage-III and Stage-II were withdrawn on 18.11.2023, 18.01.2024 and 19.02.2024 respectively. Actions under Stage-I of revised GRAP have been in force in NCR since 06.10.2023.

All the agencies concerned of the State Govts./GNCTD in NCR, in an effort to sustain better AQI levels as being experienced currently and to not let the air quality slip to the ‘Poor’ category, however have been directed to ensure that all statutory directions, advisories, orders etc. issued by the Commission are followed and implemented in right earnest, including the rules/ regulations/ guidelines issued by Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change and the Central Pollution Control Board and related instructions/ guidelines issued by the respective State Govts./GNCTD and Pollution Control Boards/ DPCC, across all contributing sectors.

In this context, all the agencies concerned are also required to take note of various actions and the targeted timelines as envisaged in the comprehensive policy issued by the Commission to curb air pollution in the NCR and take appropriate actions accordingly in the field.

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MJPS/NSK

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