CAQM Sub-Committee Revokes Stage-III of GRAP in Delhi-NCR Amid Improved Air Quality

In pursuance of the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the Sub-Committee on Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) vide its order dated 29.01.2025 invoked GRAP Stage-III when the average AQI of Delhi started to exhibit a sharp increasing trend and breached the 350 mark on the same day.

Today, Delhi’s average AQI has significantly improved as the AQI of the day clocked 286 today as per the AQI Bulletin provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), clearly indicating a downward trend. Noting a downward trend in the AQI levels of Delhi, the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP met today to review the current air quality scenario in the region as well as the forecasts for meteorological conditions and air quality index made available by IMD/ IITM and accordingly take an appropriate call on the preventive/ restrictive actions under Stage-III of GRAP in place in the entire National Capital Region (NCR) since 29.01.2025.

While comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality parameters of Delhi-NCR, the Sub-Committee observed as under:

• Owing to improvement in mixing height and ventilation coefficient and much favourable meteorological conditions for dispersion of pollutants, the AQI of Delhi has shown a significant improvement.
• The AQI of Delhi has been recorded as 286 for 03.02.2025 which is 64 points below the 350 mark to implement the Stage-III as per the extant directives of the Hon’ble Supreme Court. Further, the forecast by IMD predicts very light rain/ drizzle and favourable wind conditions in the days to come.

Therefore, keeping in view the disruptive nature of restrictions under Stage-III of GRAP, impacting a large number of stakeholders and public as well as considering the trend of improvement in the average AQI of Delhi and also the forecasts by IMD/ IITM indicating the likelihood of the average AQI of Delhi to stay in ‘Poor’/ lower end ‘Very Poor’ category in the coming days, the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP today unanimously decided to revoke all actions under Stage-III of the extant schedule of GRAP in the entire NCR, with immediate effect.

Further, all actions under Stages II & I of the extant schedule of GRAP shall however remain invoked and be implemented, monitored and reviewed by all agencies concerned in the entire NCR to ensure that the AQI levels do not rise further in the coming days. Agencies shall keep strict vigil and especially intensify measures under Stages II & I of the extant schedule of GRAP in order to obviate the need for re-implementation of Stage-III of GRAP actions in NCR.

Construction and Demolition project sites etc. which have been issued specific closure orders on account of violations/ non-compliances of various statutory directions, rules, guidelines etc. under no circumstances shall resume their operations without any specific order to this effect from the Commission.

While GRAP Stage-III is being revoked, keeping in view the winter season when weather conditions may not be always favourable and in order to ensure that the AQI levels do not slip further, citizens are requested to strictly adhere to the citizen charter under Stages II and I of the extant schedule of GRAP.

The Sub-Committee, shall keep a close watch on the air quality scenario and review the situation from time to time for further appropriate decisions depending upon the air quality in Delhi and forecast for meteorological conditions and air quality index made available by IMD/ IITM.

The comprehensively revised GRAP schedule is available on the Commission’s website, i.e., https://caqm.nic.in/