Delhi, 22 November (H.S.): The air quality in the Delhi-NCR region has deteriorated into the 'severe' category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) surpassing the 400 mark in multiple locations on Saturday, making breathing increasingly difficult for residents.

In response to the escalating crisis, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) held a meeting on Friday and has since directed the stringent implementation of Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).In a significant move to preempt further deterioration, the CAQM announced on Saturday that it is integrating some provisions from the more severe GRAP-4 into the current Stage 3 restrictions.

An advisory has been issued to the Delhi government, other NCR state governments, and central government offices to implement a 50% work-from-home policy for their employees. While this recommendation may soon be adopted by government bodies, it currently remains an advisory for private companies.

The GRAP framework is an emergency response mechanism triggered by rising pollution levels. While most restrictions are enforced under GRAP-3, the 'Severe Plus' category, or GRAP-4, is typically invoked when the AQI exceeds 451.

Stage 4 measures often include advising a shift to hybrid learning for schools, implementing work-from-home policies, and banning the entry of commercial vehicles. The CAQM provides these recommendations, but the final decision to close schools and offices rests with the respective government authorities.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar