Explained: GRAP Stage-3 Norms Imposed In Delhi-NCR As Air Quality Nears 'Severe' Category

The Centre's air quality body recently directed the enforcement of measures under stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR due to an increase in air pollution, including a ban on non-essential construction and demolition activities, according to news agency PTI. Only recently, Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index was 399, which is only two tiers below the severe category.

Considering the calm winds and stable atmospheric conditions, the Sub-Committee on GRAP observed during a review meeting that the AQI is expected to move into the severe category.

What is the Graded Response Action Plan?

A set of emergency measures known as GRAP comes into effect to prevent further deterioration when the air quality in the Delhi-NCR area reaches a specific threshold.

The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) met with experts and officials of state governments in order to develop the plan, which was approved by the Supreme Court in 2016 and publicly released in 2017. The end result was a plan that formalised the actions to be undertaken when the air quality declined.

Reuters

Since GRAP is incremental in nature, when the air quality moves from "poor" to "very poor", the actions mentioned in both sections must be implemented.

Stage 1 of GRAP is initiated when the AQI is in the "poor" category (201 to 300), Stage 2 is initiated when the AQI is in the "Very poor" category (301-400), Stage 3 is initiated when the AQI is in the "Severe" category (401-450), and Stage 4 is initiated when it climbs to the "Severe +" category (more than 450).

How is the GRAP going to be different from previous years?

Early in 2022, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) modified the GRAP. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Climate Change initially notified the GRAP in January 2017. This was built on a proposal that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) submitted in November 2016.

EPCA for the NCR was given the responsibility of implementing the GRAP, according to the notification, which has since been disbanded. The GRAP is being implemented by the CAQM as of 2021.

According to the 2017 version of GRAP, action initiatives have focused on when pollution levels reached a certain threshold. Now after revision, from this year, preventative measures will take effect based on 'forecasts' in an attempt to prevent the AQI from getting worse. The GRAP's earlier version only applied to PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations. This year, GRAP is being implemented based on the AQI, which also considers additional pollutants like ozone, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides.

BCCL

The Centre's air quality body has now ordered the implementation of restrictions under Stage 3 of the GRAP in the Delhi-NCR as the region started witnessing deteriorating air quality.

The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital and Adjacent Areas announced in a notification that the air quality has gotten worse over the previous few hours and that Delhi's AQI was 399 in the last few days of December 2022.

Actions under the Stage III of GRAP

Except for projects like railway services, metro rail services, airports, interstate bus terminals, national security and defence-related infrastructure, hospitals and other medical facilities, etc., there will be a strict restriction on non-essential construction and demolition exercises across the entire NCR.

BCCL

Additional steps will be taken, such as increasing the frequency of mechanical or vacuum-based road sweeping, daily watering, and the use of dust suppressants before high traffic hours.

Curbs under Stage III also include stone crushing, brick kilns, mining, and related activities.

There may be restrictions on BS III fuels and BS IV diesel light motor vehicles in the NCR. The public has been urged to assist in the proper implementation of GRAP III regulations by engaging in activities like carpooling or using public transportation to get to work, working from home if their employer permits it, and reducing the use of coal or wood for heating, among other things.

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