New Delhi: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked all actions under Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the entire National Capital Region, with immediate effect, after Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) rose to 324 on Monday, in the ‘Very Poor’ category.
According to the order dated November 2, Delhi’s AQI was 117 (‘Moderate’) on October 31 and 261 (‘Poor’) on November 1. CAQM’s Sub-Committee on GRAP attributed the further rise to unfavourable meteorological conditions. It said forecasts by IMD and IITM predict the AQI will remain ‘Very Poor’ in the coming days.
Stage II applies in addition to Stage I, which has been in force since October 21. All agencies across the NCR have been told to implement both stages so that the AQI does not slip further.
What Stage II requires
- Daily mechanical or vacuum sweeping and water sprinkling on identified roads, preferably at night or early morning, with more shifts for the machines.
- Daily water sprinkling with dust suppressants before peak hours, especially on heavy-traffic corridors and at congestion points.
- Focused action in all identified pollution hotspots in Delhi-NCR.
- More inspections to enforce dust control at construction and demolition sites.
- Higher vehicle parking fees to discourage private transport.
- Resident welfare associations to provide electric heaters to security, sanitation, horticulture and other staff, to avoid open burning of biomass and waste in winter.
- Staggered timings for public offices and municipal bodies in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar. State governments may decide on other NCR areas, and the Central Government may decide on its offices in Delhi-NCR.
What citizens are asked to do
The Stage II citizen charter asks people to use public transport and minimise use of personal vehicles, take less congested routes even if slightly longer, and keep footpaths clear through proper parking. It also asks them to avoid dust-generating construction from October to January, and to avoid outdoor smoke-generating cooking and heating and the open burning of waste. People whose positions allow it may work from home.
Delhi Metro has said it will run 20 more weekday trips from November 3 in view of GRAP-II.
Already in force under Stage I
The revised GRAP schedule dated September 29 lists the ban on coal and firewood in tandoors at hotels, restaurants and open eateries under Stage I, along with regulation of diesel generator sets and limits on inter-city and inter-state buses other than EV, CNG or BS-VI diesel.
The Sub-Committee said it will keep a close watch on air quality and review the situation from time to time.
