As Delhi’s air quality worsened further during the day, crossing the 400 mark and slipping into the ‘Severe+’ category, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the centre’s anti-pollution panel, imposed GRAP 4 restrictions in the national capital and its adjoining areas from this evening. This came just hours after the CAQM enforced GRAP 3 earlier in the day when air quality levels hovered above 300.
The air quality index (AQI) reached 448 at 7 pm on Saturday, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
GRAP is a set of extraordinary measures aimed at solving severe air pollution.
Within the IV. stages of GRAP, the commission introduced stricter emergency curb measures that already apply to stages I, II and III. All construction and demolition work, including earthmoving, excavation and construction work, has been stopped along with the operation of stone crushers, brick kilns, hot mix and mining units. Industrial units using coal, fuel oil or other unapproved fuels have also been ordered to shut down.
The entry of medium and heavy diesel-powered trucks into Delhi has been banned, except for vehicles carrying essential commodities. The use of BS-IV petrol and diesel four-wheelers was also banned. In addition, non-BS-VI, electric or CNG diesel-powered interstate buses have been banned.
The use of diesel generators was restricted to emergency and essential services only, while open burning of any kind, including waste and biomass, was prohibited. Any activity that may lead to increased dust or emissions is also not permitted.
Are schools closed in Delhi?
With GRAP IV measures now in place, authorities are expected to tighten restrictions on educational institutions. Under these norms, physical classes for students of classes VI to IX are likely to be suspended, while classes XI and above may go online.
“State governments of NCR and GNCTD may decide to discontinue physical classes even for classes VI – IX, class XI and conduct classes in online mode,” the CAQM order issued under GRAP IV said.
The directive also advises state governments in Delhi-NCR to consider other emergency steps, including closure of colleges and other educational institutions, suspension of non-emergency commercial activities and restrictions on office operations.
However, an official announcement from the Delhi government is still awaited as well as clarification from private schools in Delhi and surrounding NCR region.
