Stricter Pollution Curbs Under GRAP-III Imposed In Delhi-NCR Ahead Of Diwali

Ahead of Diwali, air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region has dropped, triggering the Stage-III restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

This comes after Stage-II restrictions were imposed in Delhi and the NCR region on November 02, when AQI reached 382.

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The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has applied the Stage-III restrictions across the entire NCR with immediate effect as a precautionary measure, after Delhi's average Air Quality Index (AQI) hit 382 on Thursday, placing it in the “very poor” category.

GRAP, which is implemented in Delhi-NCR, divides air quality into four categories: “poor” (AQI 201-300), “very poor” (AQI 301-400), “severe” (AQI 401-450) and “severe plus” (AQI above 450).

GRAP-III restrictions include a complete ban on non-essential construction and demolition work, such as earthwork, piling, trenching and open-air operations of Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC) plants.

BS-3 petrol and BS-4 diesel four-wheelers are barred from running on roads in Delhi and neighbouring NCR districts, and inter-state diesel buses are restricted from entering or operating in the capital.

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The restrictions also include a ban on transporting construction materials such as sand and cement, especially on unpaved roads, and the closure of stone crushers, mining operations, and hot-mix plants that do not run on clean fuel. Diesel generator sets are prohibited except for emergency and essential services.

Private companies have been advised to adopt work-from-home or hybrid modes to curb vehicular emissions. Schools up to Class 5 are to remain closed, with classes shifted online to protect young children from toxic air.