National Capital’s air quality remains ‘very poor’, GRAP II norms in place as pollution continues to bite

While Air Quality Index (AQI) readings in Delhi on Wednesday morning remained under the ‘very poor’ and ‘poor’ categories at most places, Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) II norms are already in force. Additionally, the Commission on Air Quality Management (CAQM) has banned the entry of commercial goods vehicles registered outside the national capital and not compliant with BS-VI emission standards.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI in southwest Delhi’s RK Puram district remained “very poor” at 308 as of 7 am on Wednesday morning. The AQI in Anand Vihar also remains “very poor” at 307.

Ashok Vihar recorded an AQI of 302, followed by Bawana at 322; both were in the “very poor” category. The AQI in Dwarka Sector 8 district remains at 298 under the ‘poor’ category, 306 in ITO and 294 under the ‘poor’ category in Nehru Nagar.

The AQI around Akshardham was recorded as 307, which falls under the “very poor” category. While people complain about the ill-effects of pollution on their health, in India Gate the CPCB records the AQI in the district at 282 in the “poor” category.

The truck-mounted water fountain has been deployed on Lodhi Road as the AQI has reached 226 in the ‘poor’ category as per CPCB. CAQM has banned the entry of commercial goods vehicles registered outside the national capital that are not compliant with BS-VI emission standards from November 1.

The official notification issued earlier by the CAQM reads: “The Commission, in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 12(1) of the Commission for the Management of Air Quality in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2O21, has issued Statutory Directive No. 88 dated 23.04.2025, ordering a strict ban on the entry of all vehicles, with a view to reducing air pollution caused by high volumes of transport/merchandise vehicles entering Delhi. Transport/merchandise vehicles other than BSVI, CNG, LNG and EV, i.e. excluding such vehicles registered in Delhi, to Delhi NCT O1.11.2025.

“As per the notification, non-BS-VI compliant commercial goods vehicles are allowed to enter Delhi only till October 31, 2026.

The Delhi government has completed two consecutive cloud seeding operations as part of its robust air quality management strategy.

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that with this move, the national capital has taken an unprecedented, first-in-science step by adopting cloud seeding as a tool to control air pollution. “Our focus is to evaluate how much rainfall can be triggered under Delhi’s real-life humidity conditions. With each trial, science guides our actions throughout the winter and all year round.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DNA staff and is published from ANI)