In a significant development, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Sunday decided to revoke Stage-III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region (NCR), following an improvement in Delhi’s air quality over the past few days.

“The CAQM Sub-Committee unanimously decided to revoke Stage-III of the revised GRAP in the entire NCR, effective immediately. This decision was taken in view of the improving air quality trend and the disruptive nature of Stage-III restrictions, which impact a large number of stakeholders and the public,” the CAQM press release stated. This move, which provides relief to businesses, industries, and the general public, comes after a detailed review by the CAQM’s Sub-Committee on GRAP.

Stage-III of GRAP had been invoked on January 9, when the AQI of Delhi recorded a sharp increase. Under the current framework, Stage-III restrictions come into effect when the AQI exceeds 350, while Stage-IV is triggered at an AQI level of 400. At the time, Delhi’s air quality had reached worrying levels, leading to the implementation of stringent restrictions under GRAP Stage-III to mitigate the impact of poor air quality on public health.

However, in recent days, Delhi’s AQI has shown an improvement. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the average AQI dropped to 278 by 4 PM on Sunday. This was a significant decrease from the previous week. The CAQM’s decision to revoke Stage-III was largely based on this improvement.

In its official statement, the CAQM highlighted that the Sub-Committee on GRAP met to evaluate the current air quality scenario, taking into account the forecasts for meteorological conditions and air quality provided by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).

These forecasts indicate the likelihood of a Western Disturbance (WD) affecting the region between January 14 and 15, which is expected to bring about further improvement in air quality due to favorable weather conditions.

Despite the revocation of Stage-III, the CAQM clarified that the restrictions and actions under Stage-I and Stage-II of the revised GRAP would continue to remain in force. These measures will be closely monitored and intensified, if necessary, to prevent a relapse into more severe air quality conditions. The Commission has urged all agencies responsible for implementing GRAP to keep a strict vigil and ensure the enforcement of these measures.

In addition, the CAQM has issued a directive stating that construction and demolition (C&D) project sites, as well as industrial units that were shut down for violations of environmental guidelines, will not be allowed to resume operations without specific clearance from the Commission.

Citizens have also been advised to follow the guidelines laid out in the Citizen Charter under Stage-I and Stage-II of the revised GRAP schedule. This includes limiting activities that contribute to air pollution, such as the use of private vehicles and open burning of waste. The Commission emphasized that adherence to these measures is crucial to prevent the re-imposition of Stage-III restrictions.