<p>Stage one of the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which was put in place to combat rising air pollution, will likely be activated on coming Sunday (Oct 8), media reports said citing officials. Currently, the air quality in the Indian capital Delhi is at a "moderate" level and has been at this for the past 15 days. However, it is anticipated to tumble down to the "poor" category by the coming weekend.&nbsp;</p>

<p>GRAP was revised in July 2023 with the aim of bolstering measures against deteriorating air quality as a result of rising stubble burning during the winter months.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/rbi-holds-repo-rate-steady-at-65-per-cent-for-the-fourth-time-inflation-remains-a-concern-643206">RBI holds repo rate steady at 6.5 per cent for the fourth time, inflation remains a concern</a></p>

<p>Delhi's Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, announced the implementation of GRAP from October&nbsp;1 in view of the possibility of an increase in pollution levels in winter.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Delhi AQI</strong></h2>

<p>Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) deteriorated on Thursday (Oct&nbsp;5). The 24-hour average was recorded at 177, which comes under the "moderate" category. The jump in the AQI level is not much and has gone up by just one unit as compared to the previous day's reading of 176 (moderate).&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, with the onset of winter and dropping temperatures, the AQI has been constantly deteriorating. Delhi’s AQI was 155 on Tuesday (Oct&nbsp;3) and 146 on Monday (Oct 2).</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-evacuates-diplomats-from-india-after-new-delhi-asks-for-staff-reduction-643197">Canada evacuates diplomats from India after New Delhi demands staff reduction</a></p>

<p>As soon as Delhi's AQI hits 201, initial measures to address deteriorating air quality will be taken as per GRAP.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Early Warning System</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Just like last year, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), reportedly said it will depend on the Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi to take pre-emptive action. Still, CAQM will have to wait for the AQI to get to the “poor” category to implement Stage 1. As per EWS’s forecast, the AQI is likely to be “moderate” on Friday (Oct 6) and could become “poor” on Saturday (Oct 7).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-oil-minister-hardeep-singh-puri-on-oil-prices-643213">Indian Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on oil prices</a></strong></p>

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<p>“Based on the AQI on Saturday, measures under Stage 1 could be enforced. The CAQM sub-committee on GRAP will hold regular meetings, based on forecasts,” a CAQM official reportedly said.</p>

<p>GRAP is a comprehensive strategy designed to combat air pollution in cities across India. It consists of four stages, each tailored to address specific air quality concerns. The plan's flexibility allows for adjustments based on the severity of pollution and regional differences.</p>

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Stage one of the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which was put in place to combat rising air pollution, will likely be activated on coming Sunday (Oct 8), media reports said citing officials.

Stage one of the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which was put in place to combat rising air pollution, will likely be activated on coming Sunday (Oct 8), media reports said citing officials. Currently, the air quality in the Indian capital Delhi is at a "moderate" level and has been at this for the past 15 days. However, it is anticipated to tumble down to the "poor" category by the coming weekend. GRAP was revised in July 2023 with the aim of bolstering measures against deteriorating air quality as a result of rising stubble burning during the winter months. Also Read | RBI holds repo rate steady at 6.5 per cent for the fourth time, inflation remains a concern Delhi's Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, announced the implementation of GRAP from October 1 in view of the possibility of an increase in pollution levels in winter. Delhi AQI Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) deteriorated on Thursday (Oct 5). The 24-hour average was recorded at 177, which comes under the "moderate" category. The jump in the AQI level is not much and has gone up by just one unit as compared to the previous day's reading of 176 (moderate). However, with the onset of winter and dropping temperatures, the AQI has been constantly deteriorating. Delhi’s AQI was 155 on Tuesday (Oct 3) and 146 on Monday (Oct 2). Also Read | Canada evacuates diplomats from India after New Delhi demands staff reduction As soon as Delhi's AQI hits 201, initial measures to address deteriorating air quality will be taken as per GRAP. Early Warning System Just like last year, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), reportedly said it will depend on the Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi to take pre-emptive action. Still, CAQM will have to wait for the AQI to get to the “poor” category to implement Stage 1. As per EWS’s forecast, the AQI is likely to be “moderate” on Friday (Oct 6) and could become “poor” on Saturday (Oct 7). Watch | Indian Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on oil prices × “Based on the AQI on Saturday, measures under Stage 1 could be enforced. The CAQM sub-committee on GRAP will hold regular meetings, based on forecasts,” a CAQM official reportedly said. GRAP is a comprehensive strategy designed to combat air pollution in cities across India. It consists of four stages, each tailored to address specific air quality concerns. The plan's flexibility allows for adjustments based on the severity of pollution and regional differences. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Delhi: GRAP Stage 1 likely to be activated during weekend, AQI may enter ‘poor' category

Iranian parliamentary election begins, hardliners set to dominate

The Obama administration is considering a plan to coordinate air strikes on Nusra Front and Islamic State militants in Syria if Syria&#39;s government stops bombing &#39;moderate&#39; rebels, US officials said on Thursday.<br />
<br />
The US backs the &#39;moderate&#39; rebels, who are under pressure from Islamic State and government forces, but the plan depends in part on whether Russia is willing to press Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, its ally, to stop bombing them. Many US officials and outside experts doubt Moscow is willing to do that.<br />
<br />
It would also require moderate opposition forces to disentangle themselves from Nusra and move into identifiable areas where they would be vulnerable to government and Russian air attacks.<br />
<br />
Although Russia says it has targeted Islamic State, most of its strikes have been on the US-backed moderate rebels, who distrust the Assad government which has caused most of the ceasefire violation, as claimed by the moderate rebels and Washington.<br />
<br />
&quot;If the moderates separate themselves from Nusra, the Russians and Assad will immediately target them,&quot; said Chris Harmer, an analyst with the Institute for the Study of War. &quot;The idea that the moderate rebels will separate themselves from Nusra is just not going to happen. It (the administration plan) is a Hail Mary pass that is dead on arrival.&quot;<br />
<br />
&quot;It&rsquo;s staggering to me that anybody, even during the fifth year of this civil war, thought this would be a good idea,&quot; said Harmer.<br />
<br />
The Washington Post, which first reported the plan, said the Obama administration has submitted a written proposal to Moscow, but two US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that while the plan is under discussion within the administration, no decisions have been made.<br />
<br />
A &#39;Hail Mary&#39;pass?<br />
<br />
That Washington is even considering such a plan, however, reflects the unravelling of a February 27 cessation of hostilities agreement that was supposed to bring some calm to a country riven by five years of civil war and promote a political settlement, as well as the weakness of the US-backed moderate opposition forces.<br />
<br />
In one sign of their predicament, US-backed Syrian rebels on Wednesday were pushed back from Al-Bukamal, an Islamic State-held town on the Iraq border, suffering casualties and seeing some of their fighters and arms captured, a rebel source said.<br />
<br />
Finally, targeting the Nusra Front could end up boosting the popularity of the al Qaeda affiliate, which is widely hailed by anti-government Syrians as the most effective fighting force seeking to oust Assad.<br />
<br />
Prospects for a political deal to end the conflict appear dim, not least because there is no agreement on the future of Assad, whom the US wants to step down, but whom Russia has supported with its military intervention since last September.<br />
<br />
UN Syria envoy Staffan De Mistura is in Washington this week to meet senior US officials to discuss efforts to reduce attacks on civilians and the provision of humanitarian aid as he &quot;continues to work to advance a political transition,&quot; National security council spokesman Carl Woog said on Thursday.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
(Reuters)

The rebels backed by the US is under fire from the Islamic State and the government forces which has support from Moscow

The Obama administration is considering a plan to coordinate air strikes on Nusra Front and Islamic State militants in Syria if Syria's government stops bombing 'moderate' rebels, US officials said on Thursday. The US backs the 'moderate' rebels, who are under pressure from Islamic State and government forces, but the plan depends in part on whether Russia is willing to press Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, its ally, to stop bombing them. Many US officials and outside experts doubt Moscow is willing to do that. It would also require moderate opposition forces to disentangle themselves from Nusra and move into identifiable areas where they would be vulnerable to government and Russian air attacks. Although Russia says it has targeted Islamic State, most of its strikes have been on the US-backed moderate rebels, who distrust the Assad government which has caused most of the ceasefire violation, as claimed by the moderate rebels and Washington. "If the moderates separate themselves from Nusra, the Russians and Assad will immediately target them," said Chris Harmer, an analyst with the Institute for the Study of War. "The idea that the moderate rebels will separate themselves from Nusra is just not going to happen. It (the administration plan) is a Hail Mary pass that is dead on arrival." "It’s staggering to me that anybody, even during the fifth year of this civil war, thought this would be a good idea," said Harmer. The Washington Post, which first reported the plan, said the Obama administration has submitted a written proposal to Moscow, but two US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that while the plan is under discussion within the administration, no decisions have been made. A 'Hail Mary'pass? That Washington is even considering such a plan, however, reflects the unravelling of a February 27 cessation of hostilities agreement that was supposed to bring some calm to a country riven by five years of civil war and promote a political settlement, as well as the weakness of the US-backed moderate opposition forces. In one sign of their predicament, US-backed Syrian rebels on Wednesday were pushed back from Al-Bukamal, an Islamic State-held town on the Iraq border, suffering casualties and seeing some of their fighters and arms captured, a rebel source said. Finally, targeting the Nusra Front could end up boosting the popularity of the al Qaeda affiliate, which is widely hailed by anti-government Syrians as the most effective fighting force seeking to oust Assad. Prospects for a political deal to end the conflict appear dim, not least because there is no agreement on the future of Assad, whom the US wants to step down, but whom Russia has supported with its military intervention since last September. UN Syria envoy Staffan De Mistura is in Washington this week to meet senior US officials to discuss efforts to reduce attacks on civilians and the provision of humanitarian aid as he "continues to work to advance a political transition," National security council spokesman Carl Woog said on Thursday. (Reuters)

US to bomb Nusra and IS if Assad halts strikes on Washington-backed rebels

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