Delhi enters red – Image Courtesy: AP Smog increased in Delhi two days after Diwali, AQI reached very poor levels, why is GRAP 3 not implemented yet? New Delhi: The national capital entered the “red zone” on Saturday after the air quality index (AQI) crossed 400 points, making the situation adverse for Delhiites and citizens of the National Capital Region. With a 24-hour average AQI of 361, Delhi became the second most polluted city in the country, according to CPCB data. Several areas, including Wazirpur (420), Burari (418), and Vivek Vihar (411), recorded “severe” pollution levels, while most others remained in the ‘very poor’ category.

In NCR, Noida (354), Greater Noida (336), and Ghaziabad (339) also reported hazardous air, underscoring the region’s worsening smog crisis. The air quality early warning system for Delhi has predicted that the city’s air will remain in the ‘very poor’ category in the coming days.

Since Diwali, the capital’s air quality has largely ranged between ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’, sometimes worsening to ‘severe’ levels. The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Phase 3 has not been implemented yet, as the city’s air quality this November remains better than the same period last year, according to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).

Officials said pollution levels have not yet reached critical limits that would trigger Stage 3 restrictions. He attributed this improvement to timely and coordinated actions across all departments, including intensive dust control, road cleaning, anti-smog drives and strict checks on vehicular and industrial emissions, which have helped delay the need for drastic measures. “Six out of the last seven days have recorded better air quality than the corresponding days last year.

This has been possible due to timely and coordinated action across all departments,” PTI quoted an official as saying. From all departments and the residents of Delhi, we hope that we will avoid reaching that situation,” the official said.