Delhi Pollution: Ban On Plying Of BS III Petrol, BS IV Diesel Vehicles As GRAP-3 Curbs Return

Since early morning, Delhi's overall air quality index (AQI) has been continuously climbing. It was 397 at 10 a.m. and 409 at 4 p.m.

The Delhi government banned the use of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in the national capital on Friday in response to an order from the Centre's air quality monitoring panel, citing poor air quality in the city and NCR, news agency PTI reported. Since early morning, Delhi's overall air quality index (AQI) has been continuously climbing. It was 397 at 10 a.m. and 409 at 4 p.m. The Centre on Friday announced a ban on non-essential construction activity as well as the operation of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), triggering limits under Stage-III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a statutory body responsible for formulating strategies to combat pollution in the region, stated in its order that unfavourable meteorological conditions such as fog and haze with low wind speed are the major causes of a sudden spike in Delhi's daily average air quality index (AQI).

According to the order issued by the Delhi transport department, the sub-committee for the operationalization of the amended GRAP assessed the air quality situation as well as the prognosis for meteorological conditions and the air quality index in Delhi.   

“As per directions as provided under Stage III of the revised GRAP and under Section 115 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, it is hereby ordered that there shall be restrictions to ply BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel LMVs (four-wheelers) in NCT of Delhi with immediate effect till further orders (except for vehicles deployed in emergency services, police vehicles and government vehicles used for enforcement),” the order was quoted by PTI in its report. 

“If any BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel LMVs (four-wheeler) found plying on road will be prosecuted under section 194 (1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which provides with a fine of Rs 20,000,” it said.  

Restrictions on the operation of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar are also enforced under Stage-III.

The GRAP is the Centre's winter air pollution management strategy, which is executed across the region. The GRAP divides acts into four stages: "Poor" (AQI 201-300), "Very Poor" (AQI 301-400), "Severe" (AQI 401-450), and "Severe Plus" (AQI>450).