According to the air quality early warning system, the AQI is likely to improve, although within very poor levels, and will further improve to moderate in the next six days. The air quality on Tuesday moved to the very poor range at 369 after two consecutive days of severe-range pollution.
This prompted CAQM to lift restrictions under GRAP Stage-IV. The relaxation means that linear public projects or projects of public importance can restart and the entry of trucks into the city will be allowed.
However, as GRAP-III restrictions remain in place, the ban on construction and demolition projects, barring the exceptions, the plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel cars, and the entry of non-compliant interstate buses will hold.
GRAP-IV was imposed on Dec 16.
On Tuesday, the city saw a slight overall improvement in the air quality, although some areas recorded severe-level AQI. The AQI was 494 at 11am, fell to 490 by noon, 378 by 3pm, and 358 by 7pm. The average AQI was 369.
CAQM, under direction from Supreme Court, states that GRAP-III kicks in once the AQI touches 350, and GRAP-IV once it exceeds 400.
"In view of the significant improvement in the average air quality of Delhi, the sub-committee on Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) met today to review the current air quality scenario in the region as well as the forecasts for meteorological conditions and air quality index made available by IMD/IITM. Keeping in view the prevailing trend of air quality and forecasts... and also the disruptive nature of restrictive actions under Stage-IV of GRAP" the CAQM sub-committee unanimously decided to revoke stage-IV in the entire NCR with immediate effect, an order from CAQM said.
According to the air quality early warning system, the AQI is likely to improve, although within very poor levels, and will further improve to moderate in the next six days. "The air quality is likely to be in the very poor category from Dec 25-26. The air quality is likely to be in the poor category on Dec 27," the early warning system said. In the subsequent six days, the AQI is likely to be in the moderate to very poor range.
For Wednesday, the city may see northeast winds up to 4kmph in the morning, along with smog or moderate fog in most places and dense fog in isolated places.
