The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has enforced Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage 1 across Delhi-NCR after air pollution spiked sharply in the days following Dussehra, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) climbing to 238 on Wednesday morning — entering the 'poor' category for the first time this season, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Authorities have directed all concerned departments and agencies to immediately activate measures prescribed under the GRAP framework.

Air Quality Readings Across Delhi

Data drawn from 56 of Delhi's 59 air-quality monitoring stations revealed significant variation across the city. The most affected stations were Jahangirpuri (AQI 308) and Pusa (AQI 314), both firmly in the 'very poor' category — technically crossing the threshold that would warrant GRAP Stage 2. At 16 monitoring stations, including Anand Vihar, readings were recorded in the 'moderate' range, indicating uneven distribution of pollution loads across the capital.

What GRAP-1 Means on the Ground

Under GRAP Stage 1 — triggered when the AQI falls between 201 and 300 — authorities are required to intensify control of dust from roads and construction sites, crack down on vehicular emissions, and tighten oversight of industrial pollution. Agencies have been directed to ensure regular road-sweeping and increased water sprinkling at identified hotspots.

Construction sites will face mandatory compliance checks on dust-control norms, while open burning of garbage or leaves will be actively curbed. Polluting vehicles will face enforcement action, and efforts will be made to ease traffic congestion, a known contributor to localised emission spikes. Industries, power plants, and brick kilns have been placed under enhanced emissions monitoring, with action mandated against units found violating prescribed environmental standards.

The GRAP Ladder: How Restrictions Escalate

The GRAP framework operates in four stages tied to AQI thresholds. GRAP 1 is enforced for AQI between 201–300 ('poor'); GRAP 2 kicks in between 301–400 ('very poor'); GRAP 3 applies between 401–450 ('severe'); and GRAP 4 — the most stringent — is triggered above 450 ('severe plus'). With Jahangirpuri and Pusa already in the 'very poor' bracket, CAQM is expected to monitor whether a Stage 2 activation becomes necessary in the coming days.

Public Health Advisory

Authorities have issued a public advisory urging residents to avoid busy roads during morning and evening hours, refrain from burning waste in the open, and shift to public transport wherever feasible. Motorists have been reminded to keep their Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates valid and maintain their vehicles regularly.

Particular caution has been advised for children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory ailments. Those experiencing eye irritation, persistent coughing, or difficulty breathing are advised to seek medical attention promptly. The sudden deterioration ahead of winter — a pattern seen repeatedly in Delhi-NCR — underlines the pressure that festival-season activities, combined with crop-residue burning in neighbouring states, typically place on the region's air in October and November.

What Comes Next

Air quality will be closely monitored across all 59 stations in the coming days. Should the AQI rise further or persist in the 'very poor' range at multiple locations, CAQM is empowered to escalate to GRAP Stage 2, which introduces stricter curbs on diesel generators, certain construction activities, and older vehicles. The coming weeks — historically Delhi's worst pollution window — will test how quickly the enforcement machinery can contain the seasonal surge.