StatesDelhi
Delhi air stays very poor on Diwali eve with GRAP III in force
Friday's AQI of 382 to 391 was below the 400 severe mark and down from 445 and 412 on November 4 and 5, but still very poor, and forecasters expect it to worsen over the Diwali weekend as green crackers are allowed for two days.
Key points
- Delhi's daily AQI has run at 389, 445, 412 and 391 from November 3 to 6, all in the very poor or severe bands.
- GRAP Stage III curbs are in force across Delhi-NCR, on top of Stage I and II measures.
- Certified green crackers are allowed on November 7 and 8 only, and the full ban returns on November 9.
Delhi began Diwali eve under very poor air, with GRAP Stage III curbs in force across the capital region. Friday’s daily AQI was recorded at 382 to 391, in the very poor band and just under the 400 mark for severe, according to the figures available on Saturday morning. No reading dated November 7 had been published by 8:10 am.
The week’s numbers show how high the air has stayed. Delhi’s daily AQI was 389 on November 3, 445 on November 4, 412 on November 5 and 391 on November 6. Friday stayed below the severe mark of 400, but it was still far above last year, when the Diwali eve reading was 296 and Diwali day 345.
Hotspots in the severe band
Station readings on Friday showed how uneven the city is. Rohini and IIT Delhi were at 474, Punjabi Bagh at 465, RK Puram at 443, ITO at 422 and India Gate at 403, all in the severe band of 401 to 500. At 9 am, about 30 stations were in the severe range and the rest were very poor.
What is in force
The Commission for Air Quality Management imposed GRAP Stage III on Friday, as a precaution, on top of Stage I and II measures. Non-essential construction and demolition are barred, stone crushers and mining are shut, BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel cars face restrictions, and inter-state diesel buses other than BS-VI or cleaner-fuel ones are limited. Local administrations can move classes up to primary level online. Extra Metro trips and buses are being run.
Crackers and what to expect
The Supreme Court has allowed certified green crackers on November 7 and 8, within fixed hours, and the full ban returns on November 9. Firecrackers can account for 20% to 40% of Delhi’s pollution on Diwali, and more than 70% in the peak hours between 9 pm and 5 am, according to data cited for earlier festive seasons.
Forecasters have warned of severe air from November 7 to 9. The next daily average from the Central Pollution Control Board is due in the 4 pm bulletin.