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Delhi AQI severe

ByULF TEAM

Jan 15, 2024 #Articles
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Why in news?

  • The air quality in Delhi turned ‘severe’ as its average AQI was 447 on January 14.
  • The sudden deterioration in air quality prompted the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to invoke stage 3 measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR with immediate effect.

What’s in today’s article?

  • Air Quality Index (AQI)
  • Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)
  • Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)
  • News Summary

Air Quality Index (AQI)

  • AQI was launched in October 2014 to disseminate information on air quality in an easily understandable form for the general public.
  • The measurement of air quality is based on eight pollutants, namely, PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb
  • The AQI transforms complex air quality data of various pollutants into a single number for ease of understanding.

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)?

  • CAQM is a statutory body formed under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas, Act 2021.
  • The commission aims at better coordination, research, identification, and resolution of problems related to air quality in NCR and adjoining areas.

Graded Response Action Plan

  • About
    • GRAP is a set of emergency measures that kick in to prevent further deterioration of air quality once it reaches a certain threshold in the Delhi-NCR region.
    • It was approved by the Supreme Court in 2016 and notified in 2017.
      • The plan was formulated after several meetings between Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA), state government and experts.
    • GRAP works only as an emergency measure.
    • The plan does not include action by various state governments to be taken throughout the year to tackle industrial, vehicular and combustion emissions.
  • Nature
    • GRAP is incremental in nature and thus, when the air quality dips from ‘poor’ to ‘very poor,’ measures listed under both sections have to be followed.
    • Stage 1 of GRAP is activated when the AQI is in the ‘poor’ category (201 to 300);
    • Stage 2 is when it’s in the ‘Very poor’ category (301-400);
    • Stage 3 is when the AQI is the ‘Severe’ category (401-450); and
    • Stage 4 is when it rises to the ‘Severe +’ category (more than 450).

News Summary: Delhi AQI severe

  • Delhi’s 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 447 (severe) on January 14. As a result, CAQM invoked stage 3 measures under the GRAP across Delhi-NCR.
  • The sudden to a spike in pollution levels was due to the combination of:
    • low wind speed,
    • frigid temperatures,
    • rise in the moisture levels,
    • low mixing heights and
    • impact of biomass combustion across the city
  • Invoked for the third time this winter season, the eight measures include a ban on BS- III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers plying across Delhi-NCR region.
  • The measures also effectively ban private construction in the region

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