Delhi witnesses AQI spike ahead of Diwali; GRAP II kicks in

New Delhi: Delhi is bracing for its annual air apocalypse, with the average AQI hitting 324 on Monday evening, days ahead of Diwali, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to invoke Stage II measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

According to the air quality forecast provided by IMD/IITM, Delhi's overall air quality is likely to stay in the 'Very Poor' category in the coming days, the CAQM said, urging government agencies as well as citizens to take appropriate measures to address the air pollution menace.

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Further, amid an uptick in stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, weather forecasters have already indicated that, given the wind speed and direction, plumes of smoke are likely to spread into Delhi-NCR and the Gangetic Plains over the next two to three days, significantly affecting air quality.

CAQM Member Secretary Tarun Pithode on Sunday also held a review meeting with deputy commissioners/district magistrates (DCs/DMs) and senior superintendents of police (SSPs) of Faridkot, Firozpur, Barnala, Bathinda, Patiala, Malerkotla and Sangrur - the districts in Punjab that are currently reporting a spurt in paddy stubble-burning incidents.

Officials across the districts were asked to strengthen monitoring and enforcement, especially during evening hours, and reach out to farmers to assist them in accessing balers and other crop residue management (CRM) machinery to ensure off-site (ex-situ) stubble management and prevent farm fires.