As Cold Wave Continues In Delhi Air Quality Slips To Severe, No GRAP Stage-3 Yet

It is a double whammy for the residents of Delhi NCR as there seems to be no respite from the biting cold conditions that have engulfed the region since the last week of December.

And making matters worse is the rise in air pollution levels, which has been falling in the past few weeks, due to adverse weather conditions.

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Delhi's air quality in severe category

On Wednesday, for the first time in 2024, the air quality in Delhi breached the 400-mark, to reach Severe levels.

Delhi's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) on Wednesday breached the 400 mark which requires authorities to invoke curbs under Stage 3 of the Centre's air pollution control plan called the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

No GRAP Stage-3 yet

However, the Centre on Wednesday decided to watch the situation for a day or more before invoking stricter curbs under Stage 3 of the Centre's air pollution control plan -- GRAP in Delhi-NCR, as forecasts suggested that the situation may improve.

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"The sub-committee of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for the operationalization of GRAP met today and took stock of the current air quality scenario and forecast of meteorological conditions, as well as the projected air quality index by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM)," an official statement said.

The sub-committee, while comprehensively reviewing the air quality scenario and relevant aspects, noted that as per the air quality forecasts by IMD and IITM, Delhi's average AQI is likely to improve. Therefore, it was decided by the subcommittee unanimously to watch the situation for a day or more before considering invoking Stage III of GRAP.

GRAP Stage-3 restrictions

The ongoing preventive and restrictive actions implemented under Stages I and II of GRAP shall continue for the present and the Sub-Committee shall keep a close watch on the situation for further decision.

Stage 3 curbs include a ban on non-essential construction work and the plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi-NCR.

The GRAP restrictions were earlier revoked on January 18, after the air quality improved in the region.

Cold wave continues in Delhi

Meanwhile Delhi witnessed yet another cold morning on Thursday.

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According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) dense fog is likely at isolated places in Delhi.

IMD said that national capital has experienced five cold days and five cold wave days in January so far, the highest in the past 13 years.

No rainfall in Delhi in January

It further said that Delhi has not received any rainfall in January so far ¨C an unusual occurrence when compared to previous years.

In the last seven years, Delhi saw one to six days of rain in January where normal rainfall during the month is 8.1 mm at Safdarjung Observatory, the India Meteorological Department data showed.

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However, there has been no rain in the city in January with seven days to go in the month.

Last year in January, Delhi received 20.4 mm of rain, more than the normal of 19.1 mm, IMD data showed. In January 2022, the city received 88.2 mm of rain, more than the normal of 21.7 mm.

Before this year, the winter of 2016 saw a deficit in rainfall.

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