Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) in an emergent meeting held today decided to implement Stage IV of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect in the wake of anticipated unfavourable meteorological conditions which are expected to further deteriorate the air quality of the National Capital Region in the coming days.
The 8-point action plan as per Stage IV of GRAP to tackle air pollution would be applicable with immediate effect from today in the entire NCR under which entry of truck traffic into Delhi (except for trucks carrying essential commodities or providing essential services and all CNG, electric trucks) has been banned.
There would also be a ban on plying of Delhi registered diesel operated Medium Goods Vehicles (MGV) and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) in Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities and providing essential services. Plying of 4-wheeler diesel LMVs in NCT of Delhi and Districts of NCR bordering Delhi, except BS-VI vehicles and vehicles used for essential and emergency services has been banned and all industries in NCR, even in areas which do not have PNG infrastructure and supply but still running on fuels, other than the fuels as per the Standard list of approved fuels for NCR have been ordered to close down.
As per the dynamic model and weather and meteorological forecast, the overall air quality over Delhi is likely to remain in ‘Severe’ to ‘Severe+’ category for the coming few days. The Commission while comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality parameters during the meeting noted that due to unfavourable meteorological conditions with slower wind speed and rising farm fire incidents, it is considered necessary to implement Stage IV of GRAP – ‘Severe+’ Air Quality (DELHI AQI > 450) with immediate effect as a precautionary step to avoid further deterioration of overall air quality in the NCR.
The commission has appealed to the citizens of NCR to cooperate in implementing GRAP and follow the steps mentioned in the Citizen Charter under GRAP. It has also advised children, elderly and those with respiratory, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular or other chronic diseases to avoid outdoor activities and stay indoors, as much as possible.
However, industries like milk and dairy units and those involved in manufacturing of life-saving medical equipment and devices, drugs and medicines shall however be exempted from the above restrictions. There will be a ban on construction and development activities in linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, over bridges, power transmission, pipelines etc. It has advised NCR State Governments, GNCTD to decide on allowing public, municipal and private offices to work on 50% strength and the rest to work from home.
State Governments may consider additional emergency measures like closure of schools, colleges, educational institutions, closure of non-emergency commercial activities and plying of vehicles on odd-even basis etc. The Central Government may take a decision on permitting work from home for central government offices.
This is in addition to the restrictive actions mentioned in Stage I, Stage II and Stage III of GRAP. Stage IV – ‘Severe+’ Air Quality to primarily focus on vehicle restrictions including entry of commercial trucks into Delhi, diesel commercial vehicles for intra-Delhi movements and non—BS VI passenger vans, LMVs in Delhi.
Various agencies responsible for implementing measures under GRAP and Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of NCR and DPCC have also been advised to ensure strict implementation of actions of Stage IV under GRAP during this period, an official statement said. Next review would be held on November 6.