NCR air quality sees improvement, GRAP Stage II restrictions revoked

Ravinder Saini

Rohtak, February 22

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has revoked restrictions under Stage II of the graded response action plan (GRAP) as the air quality has improved in the NCR and adjoining areas. However, the restrictions under StageI of GRAP will continue to prevent further deterioration in air quality in the area.

GRAP and its stages

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GRAP is an emergency response mechanism based on AQI level of Delhi and brings together multiple stakeholders, implementing agencies and authorities to respond to situations of deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR. The GRAP has four stages of adverse air quality.

Stage I: In case of ‘poor’ air quality (AQI 201-300)

Stage II: For ‘very poor’ air quality (AQI 301-400)

Stage III: For ‘severe’ air quality (AQI 401-450)

Stage IV: For ‘severe plus’ (AQI more than 450)

Instructions under GRAP Stage II

• Regulation for the operation of DG sets across all sectors in the NCR, including industrial, commercial, residential and offices, etc.
• Uninterrupted power supply to discourage use of alternative power generating sets/ equipment (DG sets, etc.)
• Deployment of adequate personnel at intersections/ traffic congestion for a smooth flow of traffic
• Mechanical/vacuum sweeping and water sprinkling of identified roads daily
• Water sprinkling along with the use of dust suppressants on roads to arrest road dust especially at hotspots, heavy traffic corridors, vulnerable areas and proper disposal of dust collected at designated sites/landfills
• Strict enforcement of dust control measures at C&D sites by intensifying inspections

A decision to this effect was taken at the CAQM’s sub-committee meeting held three days ago for reviewing the air quality scenario in the region as well as the IMD/IITM forecasts for meteorological conditions and air quality index (AQI) of Delhi, said an official of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB).

“Average AQI of Delhi has improved considerably in the last four-five days and has been recorded below 300 from February 15. It was 231 on February 19 evening, which is about 70 AQI points below the threshold for invoking the GRAP Stage-II Actions. The forecast by the IMD/IITM also does not predict the AQI levels to go beyond the moderate/poor category in the coming days,” observed the sub-committee at the meeting held on February 19.

Sources said thereafter, the sub-committee decided to revoke the order issued on October 21, 2023, for action under Stage II of GRAP with immediate effect, while actions under Stage I of GRAP would, however, remain invoked and be implemented, monitored and reviewed by all agencies concerned in the NCR to ensure that the AQI levels did not slip further to the ‘very poor’ategory. All implementing agencies would keep a strict vigil and intensify measures as envisaged under Stage I.

“All agencies responsible for the implementation of various actions listed under Stage I of GRAP and citizens/ residents are advised to strictly implement and follow respectively, the provisions/charter of GRAP under Stage I to obviate the need for the re-imposition of Stage II of GRAP in the NCR,” states a communiqué issued by RK Agrawal, Director (Technical), member and convener of sub-committee on GRAP, in this respect.

The communiqué further states that the sub-committee will be keeping a close watch on the air quality scenario and may take appropriate decisions depending on the air quality, as recorded from time to time and the forecasts made by the IMD/IITM to this effect.

The sources said the CAQM had, on October 6, 2023, issued statutory direction for the implementation of the revised schedule of GRAP with immediate effect. Based on the decision of the sub-committee actions under Stage I and Stage II of GRAP were invoked on October 6, 2023 and October 21, 2023, respectively, pursuant to prediction of deterioration in the average air quality of Delhi due to calm winds and stage atmospheric conditions as per the forecast of the IITM/IMD, he added.