With temperatures dropping, Delhi-NCR′s air quality has deteriorated to the point where the government has been forced to reinstate Stage III of the GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) and halt all buildings in the region save for the Railways, Delhi Metro, and a few other departments. According to the AQI bulletin released by the CPCB on Friday, Delhi′s total AQI increased to 438.

There were hotspots in Delhi-NCR where the air quality index (AQI) was severe, including Mathura Road (440), Patparganj (448), Nehru Nagar (462), Sahibabad (452), and Noida Sector-62 (426).

On Friday, the whole NCR was instructed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to maintain a stringent ban on building and demolition operations and a nine-point action plan as per Stage III of GRAP. This was in addition to the already-implemented preventative and restricting measures under Stages I and II of GRAP.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee is one of the pollution control bodies in the National Capital Region (NCR) that must implement and monitor the measures in the nine-point action plan.

This involves more frequent use of mechanical and vacuum-based road cleaning, daily watering, and the application of dust suppressants before high traffic hours. The agencies need to examine hotspots on the highways and rights-of-way, especially the busy thoroughfares. 

(Source: https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1037167 )