The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Wednesday notified the implementation of actions under Stage I measures of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap 1) in Delhi-NCR, aimed at reducing air pollution measures.
The Grap 1 notification comes in the backdrop of Delhi's air quality index entering ‘poor’ (AQI of 2O1-3OO) category.
“Actions under Stage-l of the Grap shall be implemented, monitored and reviewed by all the agencies concerned in the entire NCR to ensure that the AQI levels do not slip further,” the CAQM said.
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All implementing agencies shall keep strict vigil and intensify measures of the extant Grap schedule. Citizens may be requested to strictly adhere to the citizen charter under Grap Stage-I.
Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 18 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, below the seasonal average. Meanwhile, the city’s air quality remained in the ‘poor’ category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 233 at 9 am.
What is GRAP Stage-I and why is it implemented?
Grap Stage-I refers to the first phase of the Graded Response Action Plan, which comes into force in Delhi-NCR when the AQI falls in the ‘poor’ category, ranging from 201 to 300. The CAQM implements these measures to control dust, vehicle emissions and the open burning of waste.
Minimum temperature of 18 degrees Celsius recorded
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Safdarjung, Delhi’s main weather station, recorded a minimum temperature of 18 degrees Celsius.
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Palam recorded a minimum temperature of 17.8 degrees Celsius, 1.1 degrees below normal, while Lodhi Road registered 17.7 degrees Celsius, 0.7 degrees above normal.
At Ridge, the minimum temperature stood at 19.1 degrees Celsius, 0.4 degrees below normal. Ayanagar recorded a low of 17.7 degrees Celsius, 1.1 degrees below the seasonal average.
The IMD has forecast a maximum temperature of around 31 degrees Celsius during the day.
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According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s AQI stood at 233 at 9 am, placing it in the ‘poor’ category.
As per CPCB standards, an AQI between 0 and 50 is classified as ‘good’, 51 to 100 as ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 as ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 as ‘poor’, 301 to 400 as ‘very poor’, and 401 to 500 as ‘severe’.