GRAP Phase III restrictions imposed in Delhi-NCR amid severe deterioration in air quality

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The Commission for Air Quality Management on Saturday imposed stringent GRAP Phase-III restrictions, including shifting of schools up to Class 5 to hybrid mode and a ban on construction and demolition work, in Delhi-NCR after pollution levels increased rapidly amid adverse meteorological conditions.

24 hour average of the national capital Air Quality Index (AQI) It dropped to 349 by 10 a.m. Saturday, but dropped to 401 “due to slow wind speed, stable environment, adverse weather parameters and meteorological conditions and reduction in dispersion of pollutants,” the Commission on Air Quality Management (CAQM) said in a statement.

It said that due to the current trend of air quality, and to prevent further deterioration in the region, the CAQM GRAP Sub-Committee on Saturday called for taking all action with immediate effect for ‘severe’ air quality in NCR under Phase-III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

This is in addition to the actions under Phases I and II of GRAP already implemented in NCR, the statement said.

Phase III restrictions include a ban on non-essential construction, demolition work, stone breaking and mining activities. BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers are also banned in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar.

This also includes a ban on old diesel goods vehicles in Delhi, while schools up to Class 5 in Delhi-NCR will shift to hybrid mode and offices can operate with 50 per cent staff.

During winter, the Delhi-NCR region imposes restrictions under GRAP, which classifies air quality into four stages – Stage I (poor, AQI 201-300), Stage II (very poor, AQI 301-400), Stage III (severe, AQI 401-450), and Stage IV (severe plus, AQI above 450).

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Adverse meteorological conditions, along with vehicle emissions, paddy-straw burning, firecrackers and other local pollution sources, cause hazardous air quality levels in Delhi-NCR during winter.

Also read: CAQM constitutes expert panel to tackle vehicle pollution in Delhi-NCR