Delhi’s Air Quality Hits ‘Severe’; GRAP Stage 3 Enforced

• Delhi’s AQI climbs to 425, triggering Stage 3 of GRAP.
• Anand Vihar, Bawana, and RK Puram record ‘Severe’ pollution levels.
• Construction, diesel vehicles, and non-essential industrial activities banned.
• Punjab and Haryana witness a decline in stubble-burning incidents.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 11th Nov: As Delhi-NCR’s air quality plunged into the ‘Severe’ category for the first time this season, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Monday invoked Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) — introducing stringent restrictions to curb pollution.

The decision followed a sharp spike in the city’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) to 425, marking a critical deterioration in breathing conditions across the capital.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 412, Alipur 442, Bawana 462, Chandni Chowk 416, RK Puram 446, and Patparganj 438.

Despite the alarming rise, the average AQI between January 1 and November 9, 2025, stood at 175, slightly better than 189 recorded during the same period last year, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change noted.

During the same period, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations stood at 75 µg/m³ and 170 µg/m³, respectively — an improvement from 87 µg/m³ and 191 µg/m³ recorded last year.

Officials attributed the marginal improvement to a decline in stubble-burning incidents across Punjab and Haryana. Between September 15 and November 9, Punjab recorded 4,062 farm fire cases — down by 35.2% from 6,266 in 2024. Haryana, too, saw a 65.3% decline, reporting 333 fires compared to 959 last year.

The CAQM said it is closely coordinating with state authorities in Punjab and Haryana to ensure strict enforcement of pollution-control measures and the Statutory Directions against crop residue burning.

What Is GRAP?

The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a framework to manage air pollution in Delhi-NCR through a tiered response system. It includes escalating actions depending on AQI levels:

• Stage 1: Poor (AQI 201–300)
• Stage 2: Very Poor (AQI 301–400)
• Stage 3: Severe (AQI 401–450)
• Stage 4: Severe Plus (AQI above 450)

With Stage 3 now in effect, authorities have rolled out tougher restrictions to reduce emissions and protect public health.

Restrictions Under GRAP-3

• Complete ban on non-essential construction and demolition activities, including earthwork, piling, and open-air operations of Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC) plants.
• Prohibition on BS-3 petrol and BS-4 diesel four-wheelers in Delhi and NCR districts.
• Ban on transport of construction materials such as sand and cement on unpaved roads.
• Closure of stone crushers, mining, and hot-mix plants not using clean fuels.
• Ban on diesel generator sets, except for essential services.
• Restrictions on inter-state diesel buses entering or operating in Delhi.
• Advisory to private offices for work-from-home or hybrid mode to reduce vehicular traffic.
• Closure of schools up to Class 5, shifting classes to online mode to protect young children.

Exemptions

Essential public projects — including railway, metro construction, airport, defence, sanitation, and healthcare facilities — are allowed to continue under strict dust and waste management guidelines.

The CAQM has urged citizens to minimize outdoor exposure, avoid non-essential travel, and limit private vehicle use as the capital battles toxic air levels.