The Supreme Court on Thursday approved a relaxation of GRAP measures, allowing Delhi to move from Stage 4 to Stage 2 under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
However, the Court directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to enforce Stage 3 or Stage 4 restrictions immediately if the Air Quality Index (AQI) crosses 350 or 400 on any day.
The Court also instructed the CAQM to incorporate additional measures from GRAP Stage 3 until the air quality improves further in Delhi-NCR, and emphasized that the region should not go below Stage 2 restrictions.
Air Quality
Air quality in Delhi improved on Thursday, with the AQI registering in the ‘moderate’ category at 161. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), out of 38 monitoring stations, only six recorded AQI levels in the ‘poor’ category.
AQU Scale
The AQI scale is categorized as follows: 0-50 ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and 401-500 ‘severe’. On the same day, the capital’s minimum temperature was 8.5°C, 1.0°C below normal, with clear skies expected and a forecasted maximum temperature of around 27°C.
Difference Between Graded Response Actions Plan (GRAP) 2 And GRAP 4:
GRAP 2 comes under moderate to Poor Air Quality. This stage is enforced when the AQI reaches 201 to 300.
GRAP 2 Measures:
– Increased mechanical street sweeping.
– Sprinkling of water on roads to control dust.
– Strict enforcement of pollution control regulations for industries and vehicles.
– Ban on diesel generator sets in certain areas (except for essential services).
GRAP 4 is considered as Severe Air Quality.
This stage is enforced when the AQI exceeds 450.
GRAP 4 Actions:
-Entry of trucks into the city is completely banned (except for essential goods).
-Closure of schools, colleges, and educational institutions.
-Stopping construction and demolition activities.
-Shutdown of non-essential industrial operations.
-Advisories for work-from-home for offices to reduce vehicular emissions.
-Restriction or ban on private vehicle movement based on certain criteria.
-Possible implementation of odd-even schemes for vehicles.
What will be restored in Delhi NCR after relaxation from GRAP 4 to 2?
– Construction and demolition can resume, provided dust control measures are strictly implemented.
– Non-essential industries will be allowed to operate again, following prescribed emission norms.
– The ban on the entry of non-essential trucks into Delhi will be lifted, easing supply chain disruptions.
– Educational institutions will reopen, allowing students to return to physical classrooms.
– No odd-even or other vehicle-based restrictions will be implemented.
– Offices will no longer be required to implement work-from-home policies, enabling normal operations.
