Hours after the Supreme Court’s stinging remarks on handling Delhi air pollution, the stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was imposed when the Air Quality Index (AQI) level reached almost 400, banning construction, closing schools, and restricting certain classes of vehicles. The decision was taken by the Committee of Air Quality Management’s (CAQM) Sub-Committee on GRAP, and comes in response to an Air Quality Index (AQI) level of 380, which reflects a ‘very poor’ reading as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)-bordering on the ‘severe’ level.
Under GRAP III, BS-3 petrol and BS-4 diesel four-wheelers are barred from running on roads in Delhi and neighbouring NCR districts, and inter-state diesel buses are restricted from entering or operating in the Capital.
Schools up to Class 5 are to remain closed, with classes shifted online to protect young children from toxic air. The stage III restrictions include a complete ban on non-essential construction and demolition work. Under Grap-3, strict restrictions have been imposed on several construction and demolition activities across the National Capital Region, which includes the cities of Uttar Pradesh’s Noida and Ghaziabad, as well as Haryana’s Gurugram.
GRAP is a set of emergency measures that kick in to prevent further deterioration of air quality once it reaches a certain threshold. The first stage, GRAP-1, kicks in when the AQI is between 201 and 300; the second stage, GRAP-2, is invoked when the AQI is between 301 and 400; GRAP-3 kicks in between 401 and 500; and GRAP-4 is invoked when the AQI is more than 450.
In its daily bulletin, IITM-Pune said, “Air quality is likely to be in the ‘very poor’ category on November 6. The air quality is likely to be in the ‘severe’ category from November 7 to 9. The outlook for the subsequent 6 Days: The air quality is likely to be in the ‘severe’ to ‘very poor’ category.
GRAP-III imposes restrictions on the movement of older vehicles. BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel or older Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs), including four-wheelers, will not be allowed to ply in Delhi and the high-vehicle-density districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar. Vehicles specifically adapted for persons with disabilities and used for their personal travel are exempted. In Delhi, restrictions will also apply to diesel-operated BS-IV and older Medium Goods Vehicles (MGVs) registered in the city. Diesel-operated BS-IV and older medium goods vehicles and Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs) registered outside Delhi will not be permitted to enter the Capital.
The activities prohibited include excavation, filling, boring, drilling, piling, demolition, brickwork, masonry, road construction and major repairs. The restrictions also cover the transfer, loading and unloading of dust-generating materials such as cement, sand, bricks, fly ash and crushed stone.
However, certain construction activities are exempt from the restrictions. These include projects related to railways, metro services, airports, interstate bus terminals, national security and defence, hospitals, highways, roads, flyovers, power transmission, pipelines, telecommunications, sewage treatment plants and water supply.
The restrictions also extend to schools and offices. Schools up to Class 5 in Delhi and the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar will mandatorily conduct classes in hybrid mode, allowing students to attend either physically or online wherever the latter option is feasible. The choice of online classes will rest with students and their guardians. Other NCR districts may also consider adopting hybrid classes.
Moreover, NCR state governments and the Delhi government have to decide on allowing public, municipal and private offices to work at 50 per cent strength and the rest to work from home.