Delhi authorities will likely hold off the enforcement of new Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) till at least 8 October as rainfall is expected in the national capital. The new Graded Response Action Plan can be enforced anytime after 1 October as soon as the Air Quality Index (AQI) falls in the “poor” category with the reading of ‘201’ or higher.According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi’s AQI was recorded at 181 (moderate) on Sunday.It is expected to start improving gradually as light rain hits Delhi on Tuesday.An AQI reading between zero and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 500 “severe”.The Indian Meteorological Department’s forecast for Monday shows clear sky with maximum temperature to be at 35 degree Celsius and minimum temperature to be at 23 degree Celsius. The maximum and minimum temperature recorded on Sunday was 34.7°C and 23.7°C, respectively.According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), light rain is expected over the Capital from 4 October to 8 October, due to a low-pressure area currently over the Bay of Bengal, which will gradually move towards northwest India. An official said, “This will bring moisture-laden easterly and southeasterly winds to the region, and, as the weather system moves closer to northwest India and Madhya Pradesh, the intensity of rain will increase.”According to the EWS forecast, Delhi’s AQI is likely to remain in the upper end of the “moderate” category on both Sunday and Monday, with little chances of it touching “poor”.
