Air 'poor', but good enough to roll back GRAP-III curbs

New Delhi: After the city’s air quality improved to the “poor” category, the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) on Monday revoked certain measures with immediate effect under StageIII of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

They include ban on construction and demolition (C&D) activities, brick-kilns, hot-mix plants, stone crushers and mining. The industries, which were running on noncleaner fuels, can also operate now.

Strong winds improved Delhi’s air quality to the “poor” category with an air quality index (AQI) of 294 on Monday against 303 in the “very poor” category a day earlier. On November 11, the city recorded an AQI of 346. “The overall air quality is likely to remain ‘poor’ from November 15-17. For the subsequent six days, AQI is likely to remain largely in ‘poor to very poor’ category,” said Air Quality Early Warning System.