Deteriorating air quality in Delhi triggers Grade I GRAP across NCR | Today’s news
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Wednesday implemented phase one measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the entire National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect following a sharp deterioration in air quality in Delhi.
Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) rose from 179 (moderate) on October 20 to 244 (poor) at 2 pm on October 21, according to the CAQM.
The GRAP sub-committee took the decision after reviewing the prevailing air quality situation and weather forecasts issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). Forecasts indicate that the AQI in Delhi is likely to remain ‘poor’ in the coming days.
The panel directed all concerned agencies across NCR to implement, monitor and review Phase I measures strictly to prevent any further deterioration of air quality. Agencies have also been instructed to maintain heightened vigilance and intensify implementation of prescribed pollution control measures.
Pollution Mitigation
GRAP is implemented in four stages according to the severity of air pollution. Grade I comes into effect when the AQI is between 201 and 300 and falls into the “poor” category.
The revised schedule, approved on September 29, 2026, includes 25 measures under Stage I, which apply when the air quality index (AQI) falls into the “poor” category of 201-300.
Key actions under GRAP-I include mechanized road sweeping, water sprinkling to control road dust, regular municipal solid waste collection and disposal, and strict monitoring of construction and demolition activities. Open burning of waste will be prohibited, while the construction site must follow prescribed dust control guidelines.
The revised plan also advances some measures regarding diesel generators and the entry of obsolete diesel and gasoline vehicles from II. to stage I. These steps aim to tackle pollution at an early stage and prevent further deterioration of air quality.
Under the proposed measure, buses plying from the cities of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan as well as adjoining states such as Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir will also not be allowed to ply in the NCR unless they are electric, diesel or compressed natural gas (CVI).
The measure aims to reduce vehicular emissions, which contribute significantly to air pollution in the NCR. Its effective implementation will require coordination between the concerned state governments and the Delhi authorities.
In a parallel move to control pollution from commercial establishments under STAGE-I, authorities have been directed to strictly enforce the existing ban on the use of coal and firewood in tandoors in hotels, restaurants and open-air eateries. These devices will have to use electricity, gas or other approved clean fuel based devices instead of coal or firewood tandoors. The measure aims to reduce the emissions of smoke and particles produced during cooking, especially in densely populated urban areas.
