The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Wednesday lifted restrictions under Phase 3 of the Delhi-NCR Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and ordered curbs to be intensified under the first and second phases of the GRAP in the capital and its surrounding areas.
GRAP 3 curbs banned all interstate buses (except electric and CNG vehicles and BS-VI diesel buses) from entering Delhi, with schools operating in hybrid mode for classes up to standard 5, among others.
What will happen to the “50% WFH” mandate?
With the rollback of the Phase 3 measures, the 50% telecommuting mandate for offices has been scrapped and the hybrid mode of teaching followed by schools has also been scrapped, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said in a post on X.
Earlier, the Delhi government ordered all its offices and private establishments to operate with 50% of staff on site and the remaining staff to work from home.
Here’s what’s changing under GRAP I and GRAP II:
Restrictions under GRAP I
GRAP Phase 1 mandates the following measures in Delhi:
- Thorough checks on polluting vehicles, better traffic management and emission controls in industries, power plants and brick kilns.
2. Ban the open burning of waste, limit the use of diesel generators, and ban the use of coal or firewood in restaurants.
3. Public transport remains open and the public is encouraged to use it more instead of individual cars.
Phase II of the GRAP includes measures such as mechanized road sweeping, use of anti-smog guns and daily sprinkling of water to counter pollution, among others.
Restrictions according to GRAP II
Here are the restrictions that fall under GRAP Stage 2:
1. Ban on the use of coal and firewood in Delhi, including the use of tandoors in restaurants and hotels.
2. The use of diesel generator sets is not permitted except for emergency and essential services according to GRAP II.
3. The operation of all construction sites and demolition sites and industrial units with special closure orders must also not resume operation.
Delhi AQI today
Air quality in Delhi and other parts of the National Capital Region continued to remain at alarming levels on Wednesday, with the AQI hovering at 371 — in the “very poor” category — in the morning, up from 420 at the same time on Tuesday, according to air quality monitor aqi.in.
Visuals from Delhi-NCR on Wednesday morning showed scenes that have become typical of winter, with toxic smog enveloping parts of the city.
