GRAP-1: 27-point plan to help Delhi breathe after AQI touches 121

Stage 1 of the graded response action plan (GRAP) was imposed in the Capital on Tuesday after the air quality index (AQI) touched 211, categorising it as ‘poor’.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a statutory body established under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region (NCR) and Adjoining Areas, Act 2021, implements GRAP measures, which are short-term emergency interventions designed to prevent further deterioration of air quality during pollution spikes, particularly in winter and around festivals like Diwali.

Activated when AQI hits 201

GRAP-1 is triggered when the average AQI touches the “poor” range (201-300). It includes a 27-point action plan focusing on dust control at construction sites, waste management, road cleaning, stricter vehicle emission checks and restrictions on industrial pollution.

Sources from the CAQM explained that contrary to popular belief, GRAP is not just a winter plan. The city’s AQI is derived from the average readings of 40 monitoring stations across Delhi. If the overall average AQI exceeds the set limits, measures are implemented across the entire NCR.

Subsequently, GRAP-II is imposed when the AQI reaches between 301 and 400 (very poor category), Stage-III goes into effect with the AQI level touching 401-450 (severe category), and Stage-IV comes into force when the AQI surpasses 450 (severe category). Each stage brings progressively stricter curbs, including bans on construction, entry of trucks, diesel generators and closure of schools and non-essential industries.

How is it enforced?

To ensure accountability, enforcement task forces (ETFs) track violations on a near real-time basis. The CAQM reviews violations either weekly or once in two weeks. The task forces report how many sites have been inspected, what violations were found and how much environmental compensation (EC) has been imposed.

Once GRAP is invoked, updates are sought from 42 nodal officers from Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. These updates include data such as how many sprinklers have been deployed, how many sites have installed anti-smog guns and what actions have been taken under each of the 27 points.

The data is monitored through a central control system that links to construction sites and industrial units, allowing pollution boards to verify compliance remotely.

Effectiveness & revisions over the years

Since its introduction in 2017, GRAP has helped Delhi curb short-term pollution spikes. A study analysed AQI data from September 2017-January 2019 at Delhi Technical University and ITO, finding that GRAP interventions led to a significant drop in pollution levels after each enforcement. Overall, PM2.5 levels were notably lower in 2018-19 compared to 2017-18, indicating improved air quality under GRAP.

“In winter, low wind speeds — around 5 to 6 kmph — trap pollutants close to the ground, while in summer, higher speeds help disperse them,” said an official. “We can control construction dust and industrial emissions, but not meteorological conditions,” he said.

Though GRAP has undergone periodic revisions — for instance, in 2023, online classes for schools were replaced with a hybrid mode after Supreme Court observations — no new revisions are currently under discussion, sources said.