Wind and rain improve AQI, Grap-3 measures lifted in NCR

The air quality in the Capital improved to the "poor" category on Sunday, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR to revoke Stage 3 measures of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) with immediate effect.

- Jasjeev Gandhiok

Delhi's air quality index (AQI) was 278 (poor) on Sunday, down from 327 (very poor) on Saturday.

The improvement in AQI is due to the light rain and strong winds in the region. Forecasts by the Centre's Early Warning System for Delhi (EWS) showed the AQI is likely to go into "very poor" zone from Monday to Wednesday.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the impact of a western disturbance across northwest India is now over, with minimum temperature in the region set to dip. This is likely to negatively impact Delhi's air quality again.

CAQM is a statutory body, which has been assigned the power to take all measures, issue directions and entertain complaints, as it deems necessary, for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of air in the NCR and adjoining areas.

With Stage 3 now lifted, private construction and demolition, mining and other allied activities can be resumed and older BS-3 petrol and BS-4 vehicles are allowed to ply with immediate effect.