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Delhi-NCR's Air Deteriorates: Unpacking Pollution Causes and GRAP Regulations.
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News18•02-10-2026, 12:10
Delhi-NCR's Air Deteriorates: Unpacking Pollution Causes and GRAP Regulations.
- •With October's onset, Delhi-NCR is becoming a 'gas chamber' again, leading to GRAP implementation.
- •Key factors for deteriorating air include thermal inversion, changes in wind speed, and stubble burning.
- •Local pollution sources are vehicle emissions, dust, industrial smoke, diesel generators, garbage burning, and fireworks.
- •Air Quality Index (AQI) measures eight pollutants, primarily PM 2.5 and PM 10, ranging from 0-500+.
- •GRAP has four phases: Poor, Very Poor, Severe, and Extremely Severe, each with specific restrictions.
Key Questions Answered
With the onset of winter, thermal inversion traps cold and heavy air near the ground along with pollutants, wind speeds become calm, and north-westerly winds bring smoke from stubble burning in neighboring states.
Under Phase 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for poor air quality, vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) are barred from refueling with petrol, diesel, or CNG under the 'No PUC, No Fuel' rule.
Local emission sources like vehicle exhaust emitting nitrogen oxides and fine PM 2.5 particles, construction dust driving up PM 10 levels, industrial smoke, diesel generators, open garbage burning, and festive fireworks heavily poison the air.
