Delhi's air quality improves slightly, remains in 'severe' category
What's the story
Delhi's air quality improved marginally on Wednesday but still remained in the "severe" category.
The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) improved to 419 from Tuesday's 444.
Earlier this week, the AQI had nearly touched 500, pushing it into the "severe plus" category and making it the second-worst air quality recorded since AQI tracking began in 2015.
Pollution hotspots
Severe AQI readings persist in key Delhi areas
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) stated that several parts of Delhi, including Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, and Jahangirpuri, still recorded severe AQI levels on Thursday morning.
Other highly polluted areas included Bawana (419), Dwarka sector-8 (404), Munka (416), and Nehru Nagar(410).
Despite the smoggy weather, residents were spotted participating in outdoor activities near landmarks such as India Gate and Kartavya Path.
Policy response
CAQM revises GRAP guidelines amid pollution crisis
Amid the worsening pollution crisis, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has updated its Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
The updated guidelines now mandate the closure of schools in Delhi and neighboring districts, including Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar, under Stages 3 and 4 of GRAP.
Earlier, these measures were left to the discretion of state governments.
New measures
Revised GRAP mandates staggered office timings
The updated GRAP also prescribes staggered timings for public offices and municipal bodies in these areas under Stage 3.
However, other NCR districts still retain discretion over office timings.
Earlier, under Stage 3 and 4, state governments could halt physical classes for students up to Class 5 and discontinue in-person classes for students in Classes 6 to 9 and 11 respectively.
Now, these measures are mandatory for specified districts.
Court intervention
Supreme Court criticizes CAQM over GRAP implementation delay
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court had slammed the CAQM for its inaction on implementing Stages 3 and 4 of the GRAP.
The court stressed the immediate closure of schools across NCR and ordered CAQM to implement stricter measures under these stages without leaving it to local authorities.
Delhi's AQI has remained in the severe category since Sunday, worsening to "severe plus" on Monday and Tuesday with readings above 450.