Supreme Court allows relaxation of restrictions under GRAP Stage 4 in Delhi-NCR

The Supreme Court on Thursday (December 5) allowed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to relax the stringent GRAP-4 (Graded Response Action Plan) restrictions to stage two in the national capital in view of the improvement in the air quality index (AQI) levels.

The top court said that there is improvement in the air quality and therefore the measures under GRAP IV are no longer required.

The apex court made it clear that if the air quality index (AQI) exceeds 350, GRAP Stage 3 must be implemented immediately. If the AQI surpasses 400 on any given day, GRAP Stage 4 will be reintroduced.

The SC also criticised Delhi’s Chief Secretary for failing to pay full compensation to construction workers during the construction ban under GRAP Stage 4.

The air quality in the national capital improved, with the AQI settling in the ‘moderate’ category at 161 today.

Out of the 38 monitoring stations that recorded air quality data, only six stations reported levels in the poor category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.