With the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) implementing stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect in Delhi-NCR on Wednesday, diesel generator sets will have to be shut down, with the exception of emergency and essential services, parking fees may increase, and the state government will be asked to push in more buses from the CNG or electric buses fleet.
The directive from the CAQM states that the air quality forecast predicts that the AQI may worsen to be in the “very poor” category with effect from October 22. This is probably due to the calm wind conditions and stable atmospheric conditions that are expected to dominate from that date on over Delhi. Additionally, it is anticipated that the Diwali festival on October 24 may make matters worse.
Three days prior to when the AQI is projected to fall into the “very bad” category, Stage II of the GRAP is triggered (301 to 400).
The use of coal or firewood in tandoors in restaurants is another measure included in stage-II.
Local governments and road-owning organizations are required to mechanically sweep roads each day in addition to watering them.
On Wednesday, Delhi’s AQI was 228 and fell into the “bad” category. The Air Quality Early Warning System predicted on Wednesday that the AQI would most certainly fall into the “extremely bad” category on October 22 and stay there for the following six days.
Measures under stages II, III, and IV must be implemented under the updated GRAP, which is in effect this year, three days before the AQI reaches the predicted threshold.
When the AQI fell into the “bad” category on October 5, measures under stage-I of GRAP were enacted. The CAQM order requires an increase in these measures.
