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Delhi Air Quality: Curbs Lifted Amid 'Very Poor' Air
27 Nov
Summary
- Grap Stage 3 restrictions were revoked with AQI at 327.
- Construction and older diesel vehicles resumed on roads.
- Air quality has remained in the 'very poor' category for 21 days.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has lifted Grap Stage 3 restrictions in Delhi, despite the air quality index (AQI) remaining in the 'very poor' category at 327. This move permits construction activities and the use of older diesel vehicles to resume on roads, marking the 21st consecutive day of hazardous air. The decision was made even as forecasts indicated persistently poor air quality and follows Supreme Court encouragement for more stringent pollution control measures.
Experts criticize the early revocation, stating that the AQI of 327 is not significantly different from higher readings and that winter months are critical for pollution. The CAQM's rationale pointed to marginal AQI improvements and the recent revision of Grap norms, but this appears disconnected from scientific data and citizen demands for stricter actions, including the formulation of Stages 5 and 6 of the Grap plan.
This decision lifts restrictions on private construction, mining, and older diesel vehicles, and ends the hybrid school mode and 50% work-from-home mandate. The revocation occurs amidst questions about the reliability of Delhi's air quality monitoring network, with reports of missing data during polluted hours. Environmental activists have strongly condemned the CAQM's move, advocating for its dismantling and the implementation of root-cause solutions.
