The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas has completely revamped the emergency-level Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to reduce episodic smog events across the national capital region.
The plan has now been linked to the Air Quality Index (AQI) or eight pollutants including PM 2.5, PM 10, and gases such as Ozone (O3), Sulphur Dioxide SO2) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2). The review is part of a policy formulated by CAQM to abate the menace of air pollution in Delhi-NCR. As per the policy of the commission for the GRAP, measures under the ‘very poor’, ‘severe’ and ‘severe plus’ categories will be enforced at least three days in advance.
Agencies earlier waited until PM 2.5 or PM 10 concentration touched a particular threshold. Under the ‘severe plus’ category, agencies waited for PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentrations to stay above 300 and 500 micrograms per cubic metre for 48 hours or more before enforcing the measures mandated under it.“If AQI is in ‘Severe’ category (401-450), there will be ban on C&D activities in national capital, except emergent and essential projects (like railways, metros, airports, ISBTs, national security, defence related and projects of national importance) and non-polluting, non-dust generating activities such as plumbing works, interior decoration, electrical works and carpentry related works,” stated the GRAP policy.GRAP policy also stated that in severe category AQI, brick kilns, hot mix plants, stone crushers not operating on clean fuels like PNG and biomass-based fuels will be shut down.
“There will be ban on mining and associated activities in NCR and the state governments in NCR, GNCTD may impose restrictions on BS III petrol and BS IV diesel LMVs (4-wheeled vehicles),” the policy further added.
“In severe plus category (above 450), there will ban on the entry of trucks including Delhi registered traffic into Delhi, except trucks carrying essential commodities, providing essential services and CNG or electric trucks,” the policy said.“If AQI reaches severe plus category, the state governments will decide on allowing 50 per cent staff strength to work from home (WFH) in public, municipal and private offices.
The State governments may consider additional emergency measures like closure of schools, colleges, educational institutions, plying of vehicles on odd-even basis etc,” the policy added.The GRAP for the National Capital Region (NCR) has now been classified under four different stages of adverse air quality in Delhi: Stage I - 'Poor' (AQI 201-300); Stage II - 'Very Poor' (AQI 301-400); Stage III - 'Severe' (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV - 'Severe+' (AQI >450).The measures to be followed in the "emergency" situation or Stage IV include a ban on the entry of trucks into Delhi, and on the plying of Delhi-registered diesel-run medium goods vehicles and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) in the national capital except those engaged in essential commodities.
The use of four-wheeler diesel light motor vehicles, except for BS-VI vehicles and vehicles engaged in essential services, will also be banned in Delhi and the bordering districts of NCR. GRAP is a set of anti-air pollution measures followed in Delhi and its vicinity according to the severity of the situation.Earlier, authorities would wait until PM 2.5 or PM 10 concentration touched a particular threshold. Under the 'severe plus' category, agencies waited for PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentrations to stay above 300 and 500 micrograms per cubic metre for 48 hours or more before implementing the measures mandated under GRAP.
"Proposed restrictions are to be progressive from a lower stage to higher stage, that is, restrictive actions undertaken as per previous stages shall be continued, in addition to the air pollution stage under which the restrictive actions are envisaged to be taken," the policy said. The sub-committee on GRAP will meet frequently to plan for advance action and issue necessary orders for invoking various provisions of GRAP, based on the prevalent air quality and the AQI forecast to be provided by the India Meteorology Department (IMD) from time to time.