New Delhi : On Saturday, the Central Pollution Control Board recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeding 400 in the national capital, categorizing it as ‘severe.’ The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), citing unfavorable meteorological conditions like fog and haze with low wind speed, attributed the sudden spike in Delhi’s daily average AQI to these factors.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai noted that the AQI had transitioned from ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ due to a drop in temperature and reduced wind speed. Consequently, GRAP III (Graded Response Action Plan) restrictions have been reintroduced. These measures include a ban on construction and demolition activities and the prohibition of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicle operation.
Under GRAP III, non-essential construction work, stone crushing, and mining are banned in Delhi-NCR. Additionally, BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers are prohibited from operating in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar.
The city’s minimum temperature was recorded at 9.6 degrees Celsius, slightly above the seasonal average, with the India Meteorological Department predicting moderate fog during the day. The maximum temperature is expected to reach around 23 degrees Celsius.
The AQI categories range from ‘good’ (0-50) to ‘severe-plus’ (above 450), with Delhi experiencing deteriorating air quality falling within the ‘severe’ range.
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