GRAP's grip loosened as air quality shows improvement in Delhi-NCR

NEW DELHI: The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining areas (CAQM) on Thursday revoked with immediate effect all GRAP Stage III measures, including restrictions on construction and demolition, the running of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles, the work of stone crushers and on mining activity.

The restrictions were enforced on January 14 after Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) deteriorated to 447, which is the in "severe" category. This was the third time in this winter season when GRAP Stage III measures were imposed. It was first enforced from November 2-28 and again from December 22 to January 1.

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The revocation came after the air quality index receded from the "severe" band to "very poor".

Along with Delhi, the restrictions on BS III petrol and BS IV diesel LMVs (four-wheelers) have been removed in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar too. A large number of vehicles were impacted by these measures.

The withdrawal of the ban on construction and demolition (C&D) activity will be a relief to daily-wage labourers who were out of work. "However, C&D project sites and industrial units, which were issued specific closure orders on account of violations and non-compliance of various statutory directions, rules and guidelines will not be allowed to resume operations without "any specific order from the commission," the CAQM said.

The ban on diesel generator sets for non-emergency work under GRAP Stage II will remain in force. "All actions under Stage I and II GRAP will remain and be implemented, intensified, monitored and reviewed by all agencies concerned in entire NCR to ensure that the AQI levels do not slip to the 'severe' category in the coming days," the commission said.

CAQM said the decision to revoke GRAP Stage III was taken due to the disruptive nature of restrictions impacting a large number of stakeholders and people and considering the improvement in the average AQI in Delhi.

"The forecast by India Meteorological Department and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) also do not indicate significant deterioration and there is a likelihood of the AQI improving and remaining in 'very poor' or 'poor' category in the next few days," CAQM said.

The commission said it was keeping a watch on the situation and would review air quality on a regular basis in the coming days.


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