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New Delhi: The air quality in Delhi-NCR, which includes the Indian capital and its surrounding areas, has fallen to critical levels, leading to the implementation of Phase IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). In response to the growing pollution crisis, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and surrounding areas has announced a detailed eight-point action plan, aimed at reducing the pollution onslaught.
According to recent reports, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi-NCR has reached the severe category, recording a hazardous level of 463. The decline in AQI has been attributed to adverse meteorological conditions and increase in incidents of stubble burning in neighboring states. Adding to the crisis, several cities in the neighboring states of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have also reported hazardous air quality.
GRAP, an ambitious plan to tackle perennial air pollution in Delhi-NCR, consists of four phases. Each stage corresponds to a specific range of AQI, with Stage IV – the most severe – activated when the AQI exceeds 450 points. This phase requires the implementation of the most stringent measures for at least three days before the AQI reaches critical levels, aimed at protecting public health and reducing air pollution.
Entry of polluting trucks and commercial vehicles prohibited
With Phase IV measures coming into effect, entry of truck traffic is banned in Delhi unless the vehicles are carrying essential goods/services or running on clean fuels such as LNG/CNG/electric. There is a ban on diesel-powered medium and heavy goods vehicles registered in Delhi unless they are transporting essential goods/services.
The plan also suggests implementing work-from-home policies for 50% of the public, municipal and private sector workforce and potentially closing physical classes for some school grades. Emergency measures such as odd-even vehicle usage may also be implemented based on the registration number.
These measures include a ban on construction work related to linear public projects in the region and restrictions on the entry of polluting trucks and commercial four-wheelers into the capital. Normally, Stage IV is activated at least three days before the Air Quality Index surpasses the 450 mark in Delhi. However, this time, the implementation is reactive due to the worsening air quality.
Earlier, on Thursday, the pollution control body had already imposed a ban on non-essential construction work and specified categories of polluting vehicles. Additionally, the Delhi government has temporarily closed all primary schools for two days to protect young children from the health-threatening pollution.
It is important to note that the air quality crisis extends beyond Delhi, affecting many cities in neighboring states including Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, which are battling hazardous air conditions.
