GRAP-4 Reimposed In Delhi As Pollution Level Reaches 'Severe' Category

The curbs under Stage 4 of GRAP include a ban on all construction and demolition activities, including public projects, and on the entry of trucks carrying non-essential goods into Delhi.

Rashtrapati Bhavan engulfed in a layer of smog in New Delhi.

Source : PTI

The centre's air quality panel for Delhi-NCR imposed restrictive measures under stage-IV of the air pollution control plan as the air quality in the national capital dipped to 'Severe' category on Monday evening. 

 

The curbs under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for winters include a ban on all construction and demolition activities, including public projects such as highways and flyovers, and on the entry of trucks carrying non-essential goods into Delhi.

Delhi’s average AQI rose to 399 at 9PM tonight and breached the 400 mark at 10PM. Considering the rise in the AQI of Delhi owing to highly unfavourable meteorological conditions and absolute calm wind conditions, the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP called for an emergency meeting.

— Commission for Air Quality Management (@CAQM_Official) December 16, 2024

"Delhi’s average AQI rose to 399 at 9PM tonight and breached the 400 mark at 10PM. Considering the rise in the AQI of Delhi owing to highly unfavourable meteorological conditions and absolute calm wind conditions, the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP called for an emergency meeting. The Sub-Committee decided to impose Stage-IV (‘Severe+’ Air Quality) of the GRAP schedule (issued on 13.12.2024) in the entire NCR, with immediate effect," the the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said in a post on X.

 

The move comes hours after the central panel imposed GRAP-3 in the capital amid a sharp dip in air quality. Delhi’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 379 (very poor) at 4 pm on Monday, up from 294 in the “poor” category on Sunday. However, the AQI slipped to 'severe' category on Monday evening with the pollution levels reaching 401.

 

Meanwhile, the minimum temperature in the capital fell to 4.5 degrees Celsius, 4.1 degrees below normal, according to the weather department. This is the fourth time in December when the minimum temperature dropped below 5 degrees Celsius, with cold wave conditions observed in Pusa, according to the India Meteorological Department.

Restrictions Under GRAP-4

The restrictions under GRAP-4 include:

• The entry of truck into Delhi will be stopped, except for the trucks carrying essential commodities or providing essential services. Meanwhile, all LNG/ CNG / Electric/ BS-VI Diesel trucks shall however be permitted to enter Delhi.
• The Light Commercial Vehicle (LCVs) registered outside Delhi, other than EVs / CNG / BS-VI diesel, will not to enter Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities.
• There will be ban on plying of vehicles under BS-IV and below diesel operated Medium Goods Vehicles and Heavy Goods Vehicles in Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities.
• Ban on Construction and Demolition activities, including public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines, tele‑communication etc.
• The government can decide on discontinuing physical classes even for classes VI – IX, class XI and conduct lessons in an online mode.
• The government can also take a decision on allowing public, municipal and private offices to work on 50% strength and the rest to work from home. 
• The central government can take appropriate decision on permitting work from home for employees in central government offices. Whereas, the state governments may consider additional emergency measures like closure of colleges, educational institutions and closure of non‑emergency commercial activities, permitting running of vehicles on odd-even basis of registration numbers etc.

Delhi frequently enforces restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which categorises air quality into four stages -- Stage I (Poor) with AQI between 201 and 300, Stage II (Very Poor) between 301 and 400, Stage III (Severe) between 401 and 450, and Stage IV (Severe Plus) for AQI above 450.