NEW DELHI: The national Capital’s ‘severe’ air quality for the second day on Thursday prompted the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Sub-Committee on Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to impose Stage-III of the revised GRAP in the entire Delhi-NCR region with effect from 8 am, November 15.
Enhanced anti-pollution steps will include a ban on construction and demolition activities, road-paving, restrictions on boring and drilling work.
All government, government-aided and unaided private schools of the directorate of education, MCD, NDMC and DCB schools have been directed to discontinue physical classes till further orders.
The CAQM orders have also issued an advisory to the residents encouraging them to reduce outdoor activity and a cut-down on vehicle emissions.
Petrol vehicles from the older emission norms BS-III and diesel vehicles of BS-IV category will not be allowed in Delhi and parts of NCR such as Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar.
On Thursday morning, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai had said GRAP-3 would not be implemented due to expected improvement in air quality.
“From Thursday, wind speed is expected to pick up. The maximum temperature recorded today is 29 degrees C. The temperature is expected to rise to 30 degrees C. The CAQM met on Wednesday and it was decided that GRAP III curbs will not be imposed as yet,” said Rai.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi called Delhi a “gas chamber.” “Coming back to Delhi from Wayanad where the AQI is 35, Was like entering a gas chamber,” she posted on social media platform ‘X’.
Online learning back
All schools up to Class 5 will switch to online learning till further directions, CM Atishi said. All govt, aided and unaided private recognised schools of MCD, NDMC and DCB schools to discontinue physical classes.