If AQI touches 201 in Delhi, GRAP could be activated today

NEW DELHI: Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) will be in place from October 1, but restrictive actions at different stages will come into force once the air quality index (AQI) in the city crosses 200.
A senior official said, "GRAP was revised in July, and as the winter season begins from October, it will be in place. However, stage I of GRAP will be enforced only when AQI turns 'poor'.The other three stages will be implemented three days in advance, depending on the forecast."
GRAP is an emergency response mechanism based on the AQI level of Delhi and brings together multiple stakeholders, implementing agencies and authorities to respond to the situations of deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR.

On Saturday, AQI was 166 - in 'moderate' category - while five stations were in 'poor' category. The air quality is likely to stay 'moderate' for the next few days. Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) data shows that Mundka, North Campus in DU, NSIT Dwarka, IHBAS Dilshad Garden and Wazirpur were in the 'poor' category, with Mundka being the most polluted with an AQI of 279.
According to Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the forecasting body under the Union earth sciences ministry, the air quality is likely to remain in the 'moderate' category till October 9.
An official, who didn't wish to be named, said, "As the winter conditions will start setting in Delhi, the air quality will start deteriorating. Calm wind conditions, low temperatures and other meteorological factors would cause trapping of pollutants."
The revised GRAP contains targeted actions that need to be taken by the agencies responsible when AQI of Delhi goes beyond a certain threshold or is expected to go beyond a certain threshold as per the dynamic model and meteorological forecast provided by India Meteorological Department and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.
One of the major changes in GRAP this year is that NCR state governments will be imposing strict restrictions on plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel light-motor four-wheelers in Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar if AQI is forecast to turn 'severe' in stage III. Last year, this restriction was only for Delhi.
GRAP has four stages - stage I when AQI is ranging between 201 and 300, stage II when AQI is 301-400, stage III when AQI is 401-450 and stage IV when AQI is 450-500.