According to official notice, there has been an upsurge in pollution levels due to adverse weather conditions, and therefore, the Centre’s Commission for Air Quality Management of Delhi and adjoining states once again imposed GRAP Stage 3 restrictions on October 20, 2022.

As a result of “still winds and foggy weather”, Delhi’s pollution levels increased, with an average AQI of 297 recorded on Wednesday and 357 on Thursday at 4 pm.

The authority asked relevant officials based across Delhi-NCR that all measures listed in stage 3 should be carried out in order to avoid the situation from getting further harmful.

Sunday saw the end of the GRAP 3 stage which prohibits normal construction work to avoid pollution from worsening.

It is mandatory for students in classes 1 to 5 in grade 3 to adopt a hybrid mode of education. The option of online learning is open to both parents and pupils whenever it is possible.

The use of petrol-fueled vehicles that meet BS-III standards and diesel 4 wheeled vehicles complying with the BS-IV standard are banned from Delhi and its neighbouring areas of NCR during stage III unless driving is required for persons with disabilities.

In conjunction with Stage 3, the use of diesel-operated medium goods vehicles that qualify for a BS-IV standard in Delhi is also prohibited.

GRAP, the scheme that Delhi-NCR follows during the winter season covers four stages of air quality conditions: Stage I is classified as “poor” with an AQI range of 201 to 300, stage II is further deteriorated to a “very poor” AQI level between 301 and 400, stage III has a severe AQI range of 401 to 450 while stage IV has an AQI figure surpassing 450.

Moreover, features like mother nature itself, emissions from vehicles, burning of paddy-straw, firecrackers and a host of unnatural pollutants contribute to the already present bad air quality in the NCR region during winter months.

According to doctors, the profound air pollution in Delhi allegedly causes lasting damage and breathing such air is equal to inhaling the smoke from 10 cigarettes each day.