Delhi Air Quality Remains In 'Severe' Category For Fourth Consecutive Day; GRAP Stage 3 Measures Enforced To Curb Pollution

A dense fog enveloped Delhi and nearby regions early Saturday (16 November) as the national capital’s air quality index (AQI) remained in the ‘Severe’ category for the fourth straight day.

Delhi’s overall AQI was recorded at 404 on Saturday morning, placing it in the ‘Severe’ category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board.

Several areas in the national capital reported even worse figures, with Alipur at 433, Anand Vihar at 436, and Ashok Vihar reaching 438.

The AQI is divided into six categories: ‘Good’ (0-50), ‘Satisfactory’ (51-100), ‘Moderately Polluted’ (101-200), ‘Poor’ (201-300), ‘Very Poor’ (301-400), and ‘Severe’ (401-500).

In response to the deteriorating air quality in the national capital, Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was enforced on Friday (15 November), following a directive issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Thursday.

Under GRAP-3, construction and demolition works will be halted, all non-essential mining activities will be suspended, and non-electric, non-CNG, and non-BS-VI diesel interstate buses will be restricted.

Additionally, schools in Delhi-NCR have been instructed to conduct online classes for students up to Class 5.

In New Delhi, air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ category for 14 consecutive days until Tuesday evening, with vehicular emissions being the largest contributor at 15.4 percent.

According to the a News18 report, experts noted that stubble burning in neighbouring states further aggravated the situation, enveloping the city in a thick layer of smog.

Levels of key pollutants—PM2.5 and PM10—remained dangerously high.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences’ Air Quality Warning System indicated that low wind speeds would continue, making meteorological conditions highly unfavourable for effective pollutant dispersion.

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