The national capital grappled with 'poor' air quality on Saturday as the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 231 at 9 am. The minimum temperature for the day settled at 20.9 degrees Celsius, slightly below the season's average. The deteriorating air quality prompted the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to invoke Stage-I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) throughout the entire National Capital Region (NCR).
The recent directive from the Centre's air quality panel, issued on Friday, mandated a ban on coal usage in hotels and restaurants. Additionally, stringent measures were urged against polluting industries and thermal power plants. These actions are part of the government's broader pollution control initiative, GRAP, specifically designed for the winter season in Delhi-NCR, PTI reported.
The CAQM reported a sudden decline in air quality parameters over the last 24 hours, with Delhi's AQI hitting 212, falling within the 'poor' category. Acknowledging this, the commission stressed the need for immediate implementation of Stage-I of GRAP to prevent further deterioration.
GRAP classifies actions into four stages based on AQI levels: Stage I - 'Poor' (201-300), Stage II - 'Very Poor' (301-400), Stage III - 'Severe' (401-450), and Stage IV - 'Severe Plus' (AQI > 450).
As Delhi woke up to a humidity level of 62% at 8:30 am on Saturday, the weather department forecasted clear skies throughout the day. The maximum temperature was anticipated to settle around 37 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department.
