Tue Nov 19 13:47:21 UTC 2024: ## Delhi Air Quality Improves After Implementation of Strict GRAP 4 Measures

**New Delhi, [Date]** – Delhi-NCR’s severe air pollution crisis is showing signs of easing after the implementation of stringent GRAP 4 measures. The Air Quality Index (AQI), which soared to a dangerous 500 on Monday, has dropped to 467, according to Arvind Nautiyal, Member-Secretary of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

Nautiyal attributed the improvement to GRAP 4, which includes halting construction, restricting entry of non-Delhi registered heavy vehicles, and shifting schools to online learning. He confirmed that while some weather changes contributed, the primary reason for the reduced pollution was the implementation of these measures.

The AQI had reached a “severe plus” category on Monday morning, with some areas recording 500. While visibility has improved, the CAQM is closely monitoring the situation using its 40 pollution monitoring centers across Delhi-NCR.

The unexpected surge in pollution, a 90-point increase in a single day, prompted the swift implementation of GRAP 4. The meteorological department forecasts further weather improvement in the coming days, suggesting a more pronounced impact from GRAP 4 is anticipated. Delhi is also exploring additional measures such as cloud seeding and potentially reinstating the odd-even traffic scheme and work-from-home advisories.

This year’s winter smog arrived unusually early, hitting the city in November instead of the typical December-January period, adding to the urgency of the situation.

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