GRAP stage 2 curbs enforced as air quality dips in Delhi-NCR ahead of Diwali
Delhi's air quality nears "very poor," activating GRAP Stage 2. With AQI at 296, expected to hit "severe" on Diwali due to firecrackers and stubble burning, authorities implement stricter measures.
New Delhi: With the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi quickly approaching the "very poor" category, authorities have activated the second stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect. The decision comes as Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) have witnessed a consistent rise in pollution levels over the past week.
On Sunday, the 24-hour average AQI in Delhi stood at 296, firmly in the "poor" category. However, data from the Central Pollution Control Board indicated a concerning surge after dusk, breaching the 300 mark and settling at 310 by 11 pm, officially entering the "very poor" zone. This marks the first time since February 2nd that Delhi's air quality has deteriorated to this level. Weather experts warn that this grim situation is unlikely to improve before the end of the week.
The Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) for Delhi has further predicted that pollution levels will escalate into the dirtier end of the "very poor" range on Diwali. The anticipated increase in firecracker emissions on Monday is expected to push the AQI into the "severe" category. Experts attribute the lingering pollutants to calm surface winds, low temperatures, vehicular emissions, widespread firecracker use, and an uptick in stubble burning in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana.
Stage 2 of GRAP mandates twelve preventive measures aimed at mitigating air pollution. Key among these are stricter enforcement of restrictions on diesel generator sets, limiting the entry of non-electric, non-CNG, and non-BS-VI diesel interstate buses into Delhi, and increasing parking fees to discourage the use of private vehicles.
Data from the Centre's Decision Support System revealed that Sunday's deterioration was hugely influenced by cross-boundary pollution from NCR towns, accounting for 67.89 per cent of Delhi's total PM2.5 load, while local sources contributed 32.11 per cent. The AQEWS bulletin on Sunday stated, "Delhi’s air quality is very likely to be in the ‘very poor’ category on Monday, on Diwali day. The air quality is very likely to be in the ‘severe’ category from Tuesday to Wednesday, in case of enhanced emissions from firecrackers."
Current data indicates that the "others" category or unaccounted sources contributed 26.7 per cent of the pollution load outside Delhi, with stubble fires accounting for a mere 2-3 per cent. Experts emphasize that in the absence of adequate wind movement, these external pollutants become trapped, their impact magnified by local emissions.
While Diwali typically arrives later in the year, this year's earlier celebration coincides with a noticeable increase in farm fires. Punjab recorded 67 stubble fires on Sunday, the highest single-day count this season, with Haryana logging seven. So far this season, Punjab has reported 308 farm fires, while Haryana has recorded 38.