As air quality in the national capital region (NCR) deteriorated on Wednesday, Stage-III of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was invoked thereby banning the use of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers except for individuals with disabilities, restricting construction activities and hybrid mode be adopted by schools.
Announcing these measures, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said in a statement keeping in view the prevailing trend of air quality, and in an effort to prevent further deterioration of air quality in the region, its Sub-Committee has taken the call to invoke all actions as envisaged under Stage-III of the extant schedule of GRAP, with immediate effect, in the entire NCR.
GRAP Stage-III entails a ban on non-essential construction work. Classes up to grade 5 are required to shift to hybrid mode under Stage-III. Parents and students have the option to choose online education wherever available. Under Stage-III, the use of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel cars (4-wheelers) is restricted in Delhi and nearby NCR districts. Persons with disabilities are exempt.
Stage 3 also bans non-essential diesel-operated medium goods vehicles with BS-IV or older standards in Delhi.
It also said this is in addition to the actions under Stages I &II of the extant schedule of GRAP already in-force in NCR. Various agencies responsible for implementing measures under GRAP including Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of NCR and DPCC have also been addressed to ensure strict implementation of actions under Stage-III of the extant schedule of GRAP in addition to actions under Stages I &II of GRAP during this period.
The decision to invoke stage three was taken after Delhi’s Air Quality Index(AQI)on Wednesday clocked 365 i.e. ‘Very Poor’ Category (AQI ranging between 301-400), CAQM said.
Its Sub-Committee observed that the AQI of Delhi which was recorded as 276 on Tuesday exhibited a sharp increasing trend and has been recorded 365 on Wednesday owing to variable direction/calm winds, smoggy situation, low mixing height and ventilation coefficient for dispersion of pollutants. Forecasts from IMD/ IITM also suggests similar situations to persist in coming days, it added.
The CAQM is keeping a close watch on the situation and will review the air quality scenario on a regular basis in the coming days, it said.