New Delhi: A spell of very light rain accompanied by gusty winds on Wednesday sharply pulled down daytime temperatures and improved the capital’s air quality, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to revoke stage-II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) settled at 214 — in the ‘poor’ category — down from Tuesday’s 249. With forecast indicating that pollution levels are unlikely to deteriorate significantly, the CAQM withdrew stage-II, which is enforced when the AQI crosses, or is expected to stay above, 300. The curbs had been in place since Oct last year. Overcast skies, scattered showers and strong winds contributed to the sharp drop in temperatures. The maximum dipped to 21.1°C — 10 degrees below Tuesday’s 30.9°C and about three degrees below normal. Earlier this week, the city notched two consecutive days above 30°C, including 31.6°C on Monday. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), Safdarjung, the city’s base station, recorded 0.5mm of rainfall between 8.30am and 5.30pm. Palam logged 2.1mm, Lodhi Road 0.7mm and Ayanagar 1mm during the same period. “Scattered very light rain occurred under the influence of a feeble western disturbance. Though temperatures dipped on Wednesday, they are likely to start rising from Thursday,” a Met official said. Daytime temperatures are expected to rise to 26–28°C on Thursday and may touch 31–32°C next week. The minimum temperature, which increased to 15.8°C on Wednesday, is likely to stay between 12°C and 14°C through the weekend. With the easing of Stage II of GRAP, restrictions such as the ban on entry of non-BS-IV, non-EV and non-CNG inter-state buses from NCR into Delhi, enhanced parking fees and limits on diesel generator use have been lifted. “Given the improving trend in Delhi’s average AQI and IMD/IITM indicating that air quality is likely to remain in the ‘poor’ to ‘moderate’ category, CAQM sub-committee on GRAP has unanimously decided to revoke all actions under stage-II,” the body said. It added that stage-I measures will continue across the NCR and will be monitored closely to prevent further deterioration.
