The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), on Friday directed authorities in the National Capital Region to enforce a ban on coal usage in hotels and restaurants, and to take punitive measures against polluting industries and thermal power plants as the air quality in Delhi plunged into the “poor” category.

This action comes as part of the central government’s pollution control plan known as the ‘Graded Response Action Plan’ (GRAP) which is implemented in Delhi-NCR to combat air pollution during the winter season.

“While comprehensively reviewing the air quality scenario in the region as well as the air quality forecasts made available by IMD/ IITM, it was noted that there has been a sudden dip in air quality in the last 24 hours leading to the air quality of Delhi moving into the ‘Poor’ category. It is essential to invoke Stage-I of GRAP immediately throughout the entire NCR to take steps to prevent further deterioration of air quality in the region,” the commission said in a statement.

The Commission has advised people to keep engines of vehicles properly tuned; Maintain proper tyre pressure in vehicles; Keep PUC certificates of vehicles up to date; Do not idle their vehicle, also turn off the engine at red lights; prefer hybrid vehicles or EVs to control vehicular pollution; do not litter / dispose wastes, garbage in open spaces and report air polluting activities through 311 App.

According to the Commission’s statement, a 27-point action plan as per Stage-I of GRAP is applicable with immediate effect from Friday in the entire NCR including proper guidelines for dust mitigation measures in Construction and Demolition (C&D) activities and sound environmental management of C&D waste, ensure regular lifting of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste, and Hazardous wastes from dedicated dump sites and ensure that no waste is dumped illegally in open land areas, carry out periodic mechanized sweeping and water sprinkling on roads and ensure scientific disposal of the dust collected in designated sites/landfills.

The Commission also advised the authorities to ensure that diesel generator sets are not used as regular source of power supply; Enforce complete ban on coal/ firewood in Tandoors in Hotels, Restaurants and open eateries and Ensure hotels, restaurants and open eateries use only electricity/ clean fuel gas-based appliances.

The CAQM, is responsible for proactively implementing GRAP, reported a “sudden decline” in air quality parameters in the region over the last 24 hours, with Delhi’s AQI reaching 212 (in the ‘poor’ category).

GRAP categorizes actions into four stages: Stage I - ‘Poor’ (AQI 201-300), Stage II - ‘Very Poor’ (AQI 301-400), Stage III - ‘Severe’ (AQI 401-450), and Stage IV - ‘Severe Plus’ (AQI > 450).

Stage 1 mandates the suspension of work at private construction and demolition projects with a plot size equal to or exceeding 500 sqm that are not registered on the state government’s portal for remote monitoring of dust mitigation measures.

Authorities are also tasked with enforcing a complete ban on the use of coal and firewood in tandoors at hotels, restaurants, and open eateries, along with taking punitive action against polluting industrial units and thermal power plants within 300 kilometers of Delhi.

Ensuring the proper implementation of guidelines for dust mitigation at construction and demolition project sites and sound environmental management of resulting waste is also part of Stage 1.