GRAP III Invoked in Delhi-NCR as Pollution Rises, Schools Go Hybrid
Deccan ChronicleNew Delhi: The Centre's air quality panel for Delhi-NCR on Monday invoked restrictive measures under stage three of the air pollution control plan amid a sharp dip in air quality due to unfavourable meteorological conditions.Delhi's AQI stood at 367 at 2 pm. "Considering the highly unfavourable meteorological conditions including calm winds and very low mixing height leading the AQI of Delhi into the higher end of the very poor category, the panel's sub-committee on Graded Response Action Plan decides to impose stage 3 of the revised GRAP schedule in the entire NCR, with immediate effect," an official order said. According to the revised plan, schools and colleges in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar are mandatorily required to shift classes up to Class V to hybrid mode under GRAP Stage III. During winters, Delhi frequently enforces restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan, which categorises air quality into four stages -- Stage I with AQI between 201 and 300, Stage II between 301 and 400, Stage III between 401 and 450, and Stage IV for AQI above 450.