Delhi Pollution: With Delhi’s air quality deteriorating to the ‘severe’ category, the Centre on Sunday (January 14) reimposed Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the entire Delhi-NCR with immediate effect. The decision has been taken to prevent further deterioration of air quality in the region.
Restrictions under GRAP Stage-III
Restrictions under GRAP Stage-III include closing down operations of stone crushers, closing down all mining and associated activities in the NCR, and a strict ban on construction and demolition activities in the entire NCR (except certain categories of projects).
A ban will also be imposed on the plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel LMVs (4-wheelers) in Delhi and in the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.
The Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), a statutory body responsible for formulating strategies to combat pollution in the region, met today (January 14). The decision to reintroduce restrictions under the GRAP was made after a review meeting.
The central commission also advised state governments to decide on discontinuing classes up to class 5.
“CAQM Sub-Committee for operationalization of GRAP called on an emergency meeting today morning in view of sudden deterioration of air quality of Delhi-NCR from last evening. The Sub-Committee decides to invoke 8 point action plan as per Stage-III of revised GRAP in the entire NCR with immediate effect,” the commission said in a statement.
Delhi AQI at 458
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 458 under the ‘severe’ catagory at 9 am today.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 500 “severe”.
8-point action plan as per Stage-III of GRAP are:
- Intensify the frequency of mechanised and vacuum-based sweeping of roads.
- Ensure daily water sprinkling, along with dust suppressants, before peak traffic hours on roads and pollution hotspots.
- Intensify public transport services and introduce differential rates to encourage off-peak travel.
- Enforce a strict ban on construction and demolition activities in the entire NCR, except for the essential projects
- Close down operations of stone crushers
- Close down all mining and associated activities in the NCR.
- Impose strict restrictions on plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel LMVs (4 wheelers).
- State Governments in NCR and GNCTD may take a decision on discontinuing physical classes in schools for children up to Class V and conducting classes in an online mode.
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