Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) stage 3 is set to be imposed in Delhi-NCR with effect from November 15 at 8AM amid worsening air quality in India's national capital. The decision to invoke the third stage of GRAP was announced by Commission for Air Quality Management on Thursday, hours after Delhi government claimed that air quality in the city could improve without the implementation of the plan.GRAP stage 3: What it meansGRAP 3 is usually implemented when the air pollution reaches the "severe" category. Under this plan, there is a ban on construction and demolition, state governments may discontinue in-person classes up to Class 5 and there is an emphasis on public transportation.Under GRAP Stage 3, a set of stringent measures will be enforced to curb pollution levels. Inter-state bus restrictions: All inter-state buses from NCR states will be banned from entering Delhi, except for electric vehicles, CNG buses, and BS-VI diesel buses. This measure is aimed at reducing vehicular pollution in the capital.Construction and demolition ban: A complete ban on construction and demolition activities will be enforced to curb dust and particulate matter that contribute to air pollution.Suspension of mining activities: Mining-related activities will be suspended in the region as part of efforts to reduce pollution from non-essential industrial operations.Shift to online classes for younger students: Schools may shift to online classes for students up to Class 5, minimizing exposure to the harmful air quality for young children.Daily water sprinkling on major roads: To control dust, authorities will increase the daily sprinkling of water on major roads across Delhi.BS-III Petrol and BS-IV Diesel Vehicleswill face restrictions in Delhi, as well as in nearby districts like Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar. These measures are part of a broader effort to curb pollution and protect public health during the critical “severe” air quality phase.Delhi struggles to breatheDelhi is grappling with a severe pollution crisis as a thick layer of smog enveloped the city earlier on Thursday, pushing air quality levels to hazardous heights. At 1 pm, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the capital was recorded at 425, thus creating a dangerously polluted atmosphere, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).The situation worsened Wednesday when Delhi’s AQI hit the “severe” category for the first time this season, following an extended period of high pollution since Diwali. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has referred to the recent air quality crisis as an “episodic event,” citing “unprecedented extremely dense fog” as one of the contributing factors to the sharp rise in pollution.Delhi’s ongoing struggle with air pollution has now stretched for nearly two weeks, with pollutant levels climbing significantly since the Diwali festivities, which saw a spike in firecracker use.What the state government said earlierDelhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai had announced on Thursday that the government has decided not to implement the third phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-III) for the time being, despite the capital’s air quality remaining in the 'severe' category for a second consecutive day. This decision followed a review meeting convened by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), during which weather forecasts indicating a potential improvement in conditions were considered.Minister Rai explained that while pollution levels had surged, the government refrained from escalating the response to GRAP-III. Instead, the government will continue enforcing GRAP-II measures, which focus on controlling local pollution sources.“We have decided not to implement GRAP-III at this moment after considering weather predictions that suggest the air quality may improve. We’ve instructed all departments to strictly adhere to the provisions of GRAP-II to manage pollution levels effectively,” Rai had said