A sharp deterioration in the air quality — from ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ — has prompted the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to impose the third phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR.
The Delhi government also announced closure of schools for children up to Class V and directed all government, private and unaided schools to operate in hybrid mode. The decision was taken in a high-level meeting held by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
Meanwhile, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Tuesday asked states and Union Territories in the NCR to submit concrete action-taken reports on air pollution management efforts, in a review meeting to assess the situation in Delhi-NCR.
Yadav also requested authorities to prepare district-wise plans for crop-residue management and stressed on ensuring zero-tolerance towards open burning of municipal solid waste, as per an Environment ministry note.
In a statement earlier in the day, the CAQM said, “The AQI of Delhi which was recorded as 362 on November 10, exhibited a sharp increasing trend and has been recorded 425 at 9 am on November 11 owing to calm winds, stable atmosphere and unfavourable meteorological conditions.”
“Keeping in view the prevailing trend of air quality, and in an effort to prevent further deterioration of air quality in the region, the Sub-Committee today has taken the call to invoke all actions as envisaged under Stage-III of extant GRAP – ‘Severe’ Air Quality (Delhi AQI ranging between 401-450), with immediate effect, in the entire NCR,” it also said.
A circular issued by the DoE to government and private schools read: “Accordingly, in an effort to prevent further deterioration of the air quality, the Sub Committee on GRAP hereby decide to invoke all actions under Stage-III (‘Severe’ Air Quality of Delhi of extant schedule of GRAP, with immediate effect in right earnest by all the agencies concerned in Delhi NCR, in addition to the Stage-I and II actions already in force.”
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delOn Monday, stubble burning contributed to 13.7% to the concentration of Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) pollutants, as per the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s Air Quality Management Decision Support System while Delhi’s transport sector contributed 19.5%.
