Delhi AQI remains in 'very poor' category despite dip in air pollution level

The Air Quality Index (AQI) remained 341 at 8 am.

The quality is expected to improve as the day progresses.

The Centre's panel on Delhi-NCR air pollution on Tuesday withdrew Stage IV restrictions under Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) as the pollution declined.

The average AQI in the national capital remained 369 on Tuesday.

What does the GRAP 4 measure mean?

The government can stop the entry of truck traffic into Delhi and ban all construction and demolition activities for linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines, telecommunication etc.

The government can discontinue physical classes.

It can also take a call on whether to allow public, municipal and private offices to work on 50% strength and the rest to work from home.

State governments may consider additional emergency measures like the closure of colleges/educational institutions and closure of non-emergency commercial activities, permitting the running of vehicles on the odd-even basis of registration numbers etc.

Children, the elderly, and those with respiratory, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, or other chronic diseases to avoid outdoor activities and stay indoors.

Last month the air quality in Delhi and the surrounding areas was consistently in the 'severe' and 'very poor' category, prompting annual health warnings from medical professionals and triggering a rush of cases before the Supreme Court asking for directions to the government.