Delhi-NCR pollution: How GRAP Stage 1 curbs can protect your heart and lungs
Delhi-NCR has implemented Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) following an AQI spike to 244. Health experts emphasize that these early measures are vital for reducing exposure to fine particulate matter that can cause long-term cardiovascular and respiratory damage.
Why it matters
Proactive pollution control is essential for public health, as fine particles pose significant risks to heart and lung function even before air quality reaches critical levels.
Delhi-NCR’s air pollution is not just an inconvenience that causes watery eyes or a persistent cough. Tiny particles in polluted air can also affect blood vessels, increase the strain on the heart and worsen existing health conditions. That makes early pollution-control measures important, even before the air becomes severely polluted.On October 21, 2026, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR after Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 244, placing it in the ‘poor’ category. The measures aim to prevent pollution from worsening through steps such as controlling road dust, restricting certain polluting fuels and strengthening enforcement.But how much can these early restrictions actually do for public health?
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