Delhi AQI ‘Severe’ Again, Visibility Levels Drop To Zero; Anti-Pollution Panel Reimposes GRAP 3 Restrictions

Delhi has been experiencing severe cold and dense fog; along with the adverse weather conditions the Air Quality has also become 'severe' again in the national capital. The anti-pollution panel has reimposed GRAP 3.

New Delhi: India’s capital city New Delhi is extremely populated and one of its biggest drawbacks is pollution. Last year, air pollution in the city began intensifying from a couple of months before Diwali and the air of the city became so toxic, that it started posing serious health hazards to the residents. The government had to issue restrictions and including GRAP 3. These restrictions were withdrawn as the city’s AQI levels came down but now, as the temperature is plunging along with dense fog, the AQI levels have also gone up, taking the pollution to ‘severe’ again. GRAP 3 restrictions have been reimposed by the state government…

Delhi Air Quality ‘Severe’ Again

As mentioned earlier, the air quality in Delhi has gone back to ‘severe’ and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has reimposed the GRAP-3 restrictions in the national capital on Sunday, today. Under GRAP-3 restrictions, all non-essential construction work and plying BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles in the Delhi-NCR area remain restricted.

GRAP-3 Restrictions Imposed In Delhi-NCR

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), in a Hindustan Times Report is quoted as saying, “CAQM Sub-Committee for operationalization of GRAP called on an emergency meeting today morning in view of sudden deterioration of air quality of Delhi-NCR from last evening. The Sub-Committee decides to invoke 8 point action plan as per Stage-III of revised GRAP in the entire NCR with immediate effect.”

Zero Visibility In Parts Of North India

Residents of North India woke up to thick fog and freezing temperatures on Sunday morning. A thick layer of fog has blanketed several northern and eastern states of the country, severely impacting he visibility. For the first time this winter season, zero-meter visibility has been recorded in several cities of North India such as Ganganagar, Patiala, Ambala, Chandigarh, Palam, Safdarjung, Bareilly, Lucknow, Bahraich, Varanasi, Prayagraj and Tezpur (Assam). The alarming fog condition has prompted the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue weather warnings. Visibility dropped to 25 meters in parts of Purnea, Dibrugarh, Kailashahar, and Agartala.

The low visibility has also led to delay of at least 22 trains to the national capital coming from various parts of the country, according to Northern Railways. Flights have also been delayed and the Indira Gandhi International Airport of Delhi has also issued a travel advisory for all passengers.