New Delhi, The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Tuesday imposed stage one measures in Delhi-NCR under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) as air quality slipped into the 'poor' category, officials said.
"Delhi's AQI has shown an increasing trend and recorded 208 ('poor' category) today. Furthermore, the forecast by IMD/IITM indicates the AQI to remain in the 'poor' category in the coming days," a senior official said.
"Accordingly, the CAQM sub-committee on GRAP decided to invoke all actions as per stage I of the extant GRAP with immediate effect in the entire NCR," the official said.
Under GRAP-1, restrictions are placed, such as banning the use of coal and firewood as fuel in tandoors in hotels, restaurants, and open eateries, and allowing diesel generators only in emergency or essential situations.
GRAP has four stages, each linked to the AQI at the time.
The first stage, GRAP-1, kicks in when the AQI is between 201 and 300; the second stage, GRAP-2, is invoked when the AQI is between 301 and 400; GRAP-3 kicks in between 401 and 500; and GRAP-4 is invoked when the AQI is above 450.
What is allowed and restricted?
| S. No. | Actions under GRAP Stage 1 (Poor Air Quality: Delhi AQI 201-300) | Agencies Responsible / Implementing Agencies |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ensure proper implementation of directions, rules and guidelines on dust mitigation measures in Construction and Demolition (C&D) activities and sound environmental management of C&D waste. | Chairpersons, CPCB, DPCC, SPCBs (NCR) |
| 2 | Ensure strict compliance of Direction Nos. 11-18 dated 11.06.2021 and do not permit C&D activities for projects with plot size equal to or more than 500 sqm that are not registered on the respective state/GNCTD web portal or fail to meet statutory requirements for remote monitoring of dust mitigation measures. | Commissioners / Chief Engineers of Urban Local Bodies in Delhi-NCR towns; Construction agencies and plot owners (public & private) |
| 3 | Ensure regular lifting of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste and hazardous waste from dedicated dump sites, and prevent illegal dumping in open land areas. | Commissioners / Chief Engineers of Urban Local Bodies in Delhi-NCR towns; All land-owning agencies; Construction agencies (public & private) |
| 4 | Carry out periodic mechanised sweeping and water sprinkling on roads and ensure scientific disposal of collected dust at designated sites/landfills. | Commissioners / Chief Engineers of Urban Local Bodies in Delhi-NCR towns; Chief Executives of all road-owning and maintaining agencies |
| 5 | Ensure that C&D materials and waste are properly stored, contained and covered within premises. Ensure transportation of C&D materials and waste only through covered vehicles. | Commissioners / Chief Engineers of Urban Local Bodies in Delhi-NCR towns; All construction agencies and plot owners (public & private) |
| 6 | Strictly enforce statutory directions and prescribed norms for the use of anti-smog guns at C&D sites in proportion to the total construction area of the project. | Commissioners / Chief Engineers of Urban Local Bodies in Delhi-NCR towns; All construction agencies and plot owners (public & private) |
| 7 | Intensify the use of anti-smog guns, water sprinkling and dust suppression measures in road construction, widening, repair and maintenance projects. | All road-owning and maintenance agencies in NCR |
| 8 | Strictly enforce the ban on open burning of biomass and municipal solid waste. Impose maximum environmental compensation (EC) on violators in accordance with NGT orders dated 04.12.2014 and 28.04.2015 in OA 21/2014. | Chairpersons, CPCB, DPCC, SPCBs (NCR); Commissioners / Chief Engineers of Urban Local Bodies in Delhi-NCR towns; All land-owning agencies |
| 9 | Maintain strict vigilance to prevent fire and burning incidents at landfill sites and dumpsites. | Commissioners / Chief Engineers of Urban Local Bodies in Delhi-NCR towns; All land-owning agencies |
| 10 | Deploy traffic police personnel to ensure smooth traffic flow on identified heavy-traffic corridors and congestion-prone intersections. | Commissioner or Head of Traffic Police in Delhi and NCR towns |
| 11 | Ensure strict vigilance and enforcement of Pollution Under Control (PUC) norms for vehicles. | Commissioner or Head of Transport Department of Delhi and NCR States |
| 12 | Enforce zero tolerance for visible vehicular emissions. Stop visibly polluting vehicles by impounding them and/or imposing maximum penalties. | Commissioner or Head of Traffic Police of Delhi and NCR towns |
| 13 | Strictly enforce the Supreme Court order on diversion of non-destined truck traffic for Delhi through the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways. | Head of Traffic Police of NCT of Delhi and NCR towns; District Magistrates / Deputy Commissioners of NCT of Delhi and NCR towns; Municipal Commissioners of Corporations of NCT of Delhi and NCR towns |
| 14 | Strictly enforce NGT and Supreme Court orders on overaged diesel and petrol vehicles, as per existing statutes. | Commissioner or Head of Transport Department of Delhi and NCR States; Commissioner or Head of Traffic Police of Delhi and NCR towns |
| 15 | Ensure strict penal and legal action against non-compliant and illegal industrial units. | Chairpersons, CPCB, DPCC, SPCBs (NCR); District Magistrates / Deputy Commissioners of NCT of Delhi and NCR towns; Commissioners of Urban Local Bodies in Delhi and NCR towns |
| 16 | Stringently enforce all pollution control regulations in industries, brick kilns and hot mix plants, ensuring strict compliance with prescribed emission standards. | Chairpersons, CPCB, DPCC, SPCBs (NCR); District Magistrates / Deputy Commissioners of NCT of Delhi and NCR towns; Commissioners of Urban Local Bodies in Delhi and NCR towns |
| 17 | Ensure that only approved fuels are used by industries in NCR, including brick kilns and hot mix plants, and enforce closure in case of violations. | Chairpersons, CPCB, DPCC, SPCBs (NCR); District Magistrates / Deputy Commissioners of NCT of Delhi and NCR towns; Commissioners of Urban Local Bodies in Delhi and NCR towns |
| 18 | Stringently enforce emission norms in thermal power plants and take strict action against non-compliance. | Plant in-charge of power plants located within a 300-km radius of Delhi; Chairpersons, CPCB, DPCC, SPCBs (NCR) |
| 19 | Strictly enforce court and tribunal orders regarding the ban on firecrackers. | Commissioner of Police of Delhi & IG/DIG/SP of NCR towns or Officer in charge of Licensing; District Magistrates / Deputy Commissioners of respective NCR districts; Chief Controller of Explosives, Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO) |
| 20 | Ensure regular lifting and proper disposal of industrial waste from industrial and non-development areas. | Chairpersons, CPCB, DPCC, SPCBs (NCR); Commissioners / Chief Engineers of Urban Local Bodies in Delhi-NCR towns; All land-owning agencies; District Magistrates / Deputy Commissioners in NCR |
| 21 | DISCOMs to minimise power supply interruptions in NCR. | Heads of Power Distribution Companies in NCR |
| 22 | Ensure that diesel generator sets are not used as a regular source of power supply. | Chairpersons, CPCB, DPCC, SPCBs (NCR); District Magistrates / Deputy Commissioners of respective NCR districts |
| 23 | Strictly enforce the existing ban on the use of coal and firewood as fuel in tandoors at hotels, restaurants and open eateries. | Commissioners / Chief Engineers of Urban Local Bodies in Delhi-NCR towns; Chairpersons, CPCB, DPCC, SPCBs (NCR) |
| 24 | Ensure that hotels, restaurants and open eateries use only electricity-based, gas-based or other clean-fuel-based appliances. | Commissioners / Chief Engineers of Urban Local Bodies in Delhi-NCR towns; Chairpersons, CPCB, DPCC, SPCBs (NCR) |
| 25 | Disseminate information through social media, bulk SMS and mobile apps to inform people about pollution levels, control room contact details, reporting mechanisms for polluting activities and government actions being taken. | ACS/Principal Secretary/Secretary, Department of Environment, GNCTD and NCR States; Chairpersons, CPCB, DPCC, SPCBs (NCR) |
| 26 | Ensure quick redressal of complaints received through the 311 App, Green Delhi App, SAMEER App and other social media platforms to curb polluting activities. | Heads of Urban Local Bodies in NCR towns; Chairpersons, CPCB, DPCC, SPCBs (NCR) |
| 27 | Encourage offices to adopt unified commute systems for employees in order to reduce traffic congestion on roads. | State Governments in NCR and GNCTD |
