The Supreme Court has allowed the Commission for Air Quality Management to relax the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-IV restrictions in Delhi to GRAP-Stage II. This decision comes in response to the recent improvement in the Air Quality Index (AQI), which has shown a consistent downward trend. A bench comprising Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih took note of the submission by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati that the average AQI levels have been below the 300 mark since November 30.
The court has advised the Commission to consider incorporating certain measures under GRAP-Stage III as a precautionary measure. It said that GRAP-III should be implemented if the AQI exceeds 350, and GRAP-IV reimposed if it surpasses 400. Earlier, on Monday, the court had observed that it would allow the relaxation of GRAP-IV restrictions only after seeing a consistent downward trend in the Air Quality Index.
