New Delhi, Jan 2 (NationPress) The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in Delhi NCR announced on Friday the cancellation of actions under Stage III ('severe' Air Quality) of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) due to a slight enhancement in AQI, attributed to strong winds, according to an official statement.

In a review meeting, the Sub-Committee on GRAP opted to revoke its decision from December 13, 2025, which had invoked actions under Stage-III (‘Severe’ Air Quality). The committee recommended a stronger focus on actions under Stage I and Stage II going forward.

During this meeting, the Sub-Committee assessed the air quality situation in the area alongside forecasts from the IMD/IITM, as stated by the official.

Currently, Stages I, II, and III of the existing GRAP schedule remain in effect as per orders issued on October 14, October 19, and December 13, 2025, respectively.

Chairman of the Sub-Committee, S.D. Attri, remarked in an order post-meeting, “As we revoke GRAP Stage-III, it’s essential to prioritize adherence to the citizen charter under GRAP-I and II, especially during this winter season when conditions can worsen.”

The order clarified, “Stage-I and II actions will persist and be executed according to the modified GRAP from November 21, 2025, with monitoring by relevant agencies across the NCR to avoid a decline in AQI levels to ‘Severe/ Severe plus’.”

All operational agencies must maintain strict vigilance and heighten efforts under Stages I & II of the modified GRAP.

The Sub-Committee specified that construction and demolition sites, which received specific closure orders due to various violations and non-compliance with regulations, are prohibited from resuming work without a direct order from the Commission.

On October 19, the Sub-Committee unanimously implemented a 12-point action plan under Stage-II, enhancing existing Stage-I provisions. Agencies like the Pollution Control Boards of NCR states and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) have been directed to enforce these measures rigorously.

This initiative commenced with daily mechanical cleaning and water sprinkling on major roads, increasing machinery shifts, and applying dust suppressants at hotspots and traffic corridors prior to peak hours, alongside proper waste management.

Enhanced monitoring of construction sites, focused interventions at hotspots, and uninterrupted power supply to reduce diesel generator use were part of this plan. Diesel generator operations were limited to emergencies such as hospitals and public transport, following directives issued on September 29, 2023.