The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Thursday enforced Tier I measures in Delhi-NCR under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) after the air quality deteriorated to the ‘poor’ category, officials said.
“Delhi’s AQI is showing an increasing trend due to adverse weather conditions and is recorded as 226 (‘Poor’ category) today. Besides, IMD and IITM forecast also predicts that AQI will remain in ‘Poor’ category for the next two days,” a senior official was quoted as saying by PTI.
“The CAQM sub-committee has therefore decided to implement with immediate effect all measures under Phase 1 (‘Poor’ Air Quality) of the existing GRAP across the NCR,” the official added.
What is allowed?
- Construction and demolition work is allowed, but only with mandatory dust measures such as water sprinkling and smog guns.
2. Industrial activities are permitted if they meet pollution control standards.
3. Vehicle movement continues normally, although vehicles causing pollution may be penalized.
4. Diesel generators are only permitted for essential or emergency use.
5. Commercial establishments such as restaurants and hotels can operate but must use clean fuels and cannot use coal or wood.
6. Public transport and private vehicles continue to operate as usual.
2. Open burning of waste, including garbage, leaves and other materials, is strictly prohibited. The use of coal or wood as fuel in roadside restaurants and commercial kitchens is prohibited, hotels, restaurants and open dining areas require switching to electricity, gas or other cleaner fuels.
3. Diesel generators may only be used in necessary or emergency situations. Polluting vehicles can face fines or be impounded. Traffic management measures include deploying police officers at key intersections and advising motorists to turn off their engines at red lights.
4. In addition, older vehicles are not allowed to operate in Delhi-NCR, diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years are prohibited.
What is GRAP?
The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a structured set of measures and guidelines aimed at addressing the increasing levels of air pollution in Delhi-NCR. According to GRAP, air quality is classified into five categories based on the Air Quality Index (AQI):
