- विज्ञापन -
New Delhi: On Friday morning, the air quality in the national capital improved and was categorized as ‘moderate.’ This positive change followed a period during which the air quality index (AQI) was classified as poor. At 8 am on February 7, the overall AQI was reported to be 170, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Earlier this week, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a warning about dense fog in certain areas, including Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and western Uttar Pradesh. The CPCB noted that the AQI had declined into the ‘poor’ range due to the foggy conditions.
On February 3, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) decided to lift the restrictions that were part of Stage-III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region (NCR), following improvements in the AQI. On that date, the AQI in Delhi was recorded at 286, which was 64 points below the 350 threshold needed to trigger Stage-III actions, as per the Supreme Court’s guidelines.
However, measures under Stages I and II of the existing GRAP continue to be enforced. Authorities have been instructed to maintain close monitoring and enhance efforts under these two stages. Additionally, construction and demolition sites that have been ordered to close due to non-compliance must not resume operations without explicit permission from the commission.
The order emphasized that if the AQI exceeds 350, Stage-III measures will be implemented immediately as a precaution. In cases where the AQI surpasses 400 on any given day, Stage-IV measures will also be reinstated.
