New Delhi: Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the Commission for Air Quality Management had brought GRAP Stage III into force from November 6, introducing restrictions on certain older diesel and petrol vehicles and requiring hybrid classes for schools up to Grade 5.
Sirsa said diesel vehicles meeting Bharat Stage-IV emission norms or lower and petrol vehicles meeting Bharat Stage-III norms or lower were no longer permitted to operate in Delhi, irrespective of whether they were registered in the capital or elsewhere.
Vehicle restrictions under the minister’s statement
He said heavy vehicles and light commercial vehicles running on diesel and meeting BS-IV norms or lower were also prohibited. The statement did not give a separate list of exemptions or other enforcement conditions.
According to Sirsa, the restrictions also applied in the NCR cities of Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurugram and Sonipat. He said the measures would remain in effect for as long as GRAP Stage III continued.
Hybrid classes through Grade 5
Sirsa said all schools up to Grade 5 were required to operate in hybrid mode and described the requirement as mandatory.
Minister flags weaker winds and possible AQI rise
The minister said the weather was expected to worsen from the following day, with wind speeds likely to fall close to zero. Citing the Meteorological Department, he said stagnant air could push the Air Quality Index higher.
Sirsa appealed to residents to cooperate with the restrictions, saying collective compliance was needed to help improve Delhi’s air.
