According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s AQI stood at 233 at 9 am on Wednesday, placing it in the ‘poor’ category. Under CPCB standards, an AQI between 0 and 50 is classified as ‘good’, 51-100 as ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 as ‘moderate’, 201-300 as ‘poor’, 301-400 as ‘very poor’, and 401-500 as ‘severe’.
GRAP Stage 1 measures come into effect when the AQI falls within the 201-300 range. The restrictions are designed to address pollution at its source through controls on dust, construction activities, vehicle emissions and industrial operations across Delhi-NCR.
Under the applicable measures, the use of coal and firewood in tandoors at hotels, restaurants and open eateries is restricted. The use of coal in hotels and restaurants is prohibited, while diesel generators are permitted only in emergencies, subject to applicable exemptions for essential and emergency services.
Construction and demolition sites must comply with prescribed dust-control measures, with inspections conducted to check adherence. Open burning of garbage, leaves and other waste is prohibited as part of efforts to reduce pollution from waste disposal.
Authorities have also been directed to enforce pollution-control rules and take action against visibly polluting vehicles. Traffic police are being deployed at busy intersections to improve traffic flow and reduce vehicle emissions. Mechanised road sweeping and water sprinkling are among the measures used to suppress road dust.
Industrial units and other regulated pollution sources are also required to comply with applicable emission-control standards. Together, these measures focus on limiting emissions and dust from multiple sources across the national capital and the wider Delhi-NCR region.
Meanwhile, Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 18 degrees Celsius at Safdarjung on Wednesday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The reading was below the seasonal average.
Other weather stations across the capital also recorded relatively cool morning temperatures. Palam reported a minimum of 17.8 degrees Celsius, which was 1.1 degrees below normal. At Lodhi Road, the minimum temperature stood at 17.7 degrees Celsius, 0.7 degrees above normal.
The Ridge station recorded a minimum temperature of 19.1 degrees Celsius, 0.4 degrees below normal, while Ayanagar reported 17.7 degrees Celsius, 1.1 degrees below the seasonal average.
Despite the relatively cool morning conditions, Delhi’s air quality remained a concern, with the overall AQI continuing in the ‘poor’ category. The implementation of GRAP Stage 1 underscores the need for continued enforcement of dust-control measures, emission restrictions and pollution-control standards as the city seeks to address deteriorating air quality.
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