Delhi’s air quality has reached a “severe” level this week, last Wednesday the Delhi Air Quality Index (AQI) was the highest in the entire country and today, November 14, the Delhi AQI reached 428 on Thursday morning, which is the highest this season has entered the ‘serious’ category for the first time. In view of further decline in AQI, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has decided to implement Phase 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) from tomorrow i.e. November 15 .
As soon as GRAP 3 is implemented, construction will be banned in Delhi-NCR and only those works that are necessary at the national level will continue. At the same time, the decision was also made to close schools up to fifth grade.
What is grape 3?
The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a set of measures designed to reduce worsening air pollution levels in Delhi and NCR. GRAP Phase 3 is activated when the air quality index (AQI) reaches ‘severe’ levels, imposing restrictions on construction, demolition and public activities to reduce pollution.
These restrictions will be imposed during Grape 3
1. Construction and demolition will be paralyzed, all non-essential mining activities will be suspended.
2. There will be a ban on non-electric, non-CNG and non-diesel BS-VI interstate buses.
3. Primary schools can move to online classes.
4. Water sprinkling will be increased on main roads.
Let us tell you that as soon as winter comes, pollution starts taking its toll in Delhi. In view of this, a set of emergency measures – Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)-1 was implemented ahead of schedule to control air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region during winter. Generally this comes into effect from October.
