Here's The Revised Plan To Tackle Pollution In Delhi From Oct 1

From October 1, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) will be operational but restrictive actions at different stages will come into force once the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city crosses 200.

GRAP has four stages - stage I when AQI is ranging between 201 and 300, stage II when AQI is 301-400, stage III when AQI is 401-450 and stage IV when AQI is 450-500.

What is the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)?

Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a set of emergency measures that kick in to prevent further deterioration of air quality once it reaches a certain threshold in the Delhi-NCR region.

It was approved by the Supreme Court in 2016 after the Supreme Court¡¯s order in the matter of M. C. Mehta vs. Union of India (2016) and notified in 2017.

The air pollution level is determined using the Air Quality Index number. AQI is a number used by government agencies to measure the air pollution levels and communicate it to the population.

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The plan brings together multiple stakeholders, implementing agencies and authorities to respond to the situations of deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR.

Why does pollution increase during winters in Delhi?

There are a number of reasons why pollution increases during winters in Delhi - ranging from stagnant wind, stubble burning, and festival-related firecrakers.

The cold air is a much denser then warm air. Warm air being lighter rises upward thereby carrying away the pollutants from the ground. But the dense cooler air instead settles down and traps various kinds of pollutants in it.

In winter, stubble burning takes places in Punjab and Haryana, which is a major cause of air pollution in Delhi during winters.

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During this time, farmers burn the crop waste from their wheat and paddy fields after harvesting in order to reduce the turnaround time between harvesting and sowing for the first (summer) crop and the second (winter) crop.

Further, Delhi is a landlocked city due to which the polluting winds get trapped within this area.

What are the current air pollution levels in Delhi?

On Saturday, AQI was 166 in - in the moderate category, while five stations were in the 'poor' category.

Central Pollution Control Board (CBCB) data shows that Mundka, North Campus in DU, NSIT Dwarka, IHBAS Dilshad Garden and Wazirpur were in the 'poor' category. Mundka was the most polluted with an AQI of 279.

This year, the NCR state governments will be imposing strict restrictions on plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel light-motor four-wheelers in Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar if AQI is forecast turns 'severe' in stage III. Last year, this restriction applied only to Delhi.

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