Delhi Air Quality Crisis: As air quality in the national capital slipped into the severe category, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Saturday enforced Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect, triggering a fresh round of pollution-control restrictions across Delhi.
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The move came after the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed the 400 mark around 10 am on December 13, prompting authorities to reintroduce stringent curbs to prevent further deterioration in air quality.
Construction, vehicles face fresh curbs
Under GRAP Stage III, all non-essential construction and demolition activity has been halted. This includes earthwork, piling, open trenching, welding, painting, plastering, tiling and flooring. Operations of stone crushers, brick kilns and mining units have also been suspended, along with the transport of construction materials such as cement, sand and fly ash on unpaved roads.
On the transport front, BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers have been barred from plying in the city. Non-essential diesel-run medium goods vehicles and inter-state diesel buses that do not meet CNG, electric or BS-VI standards have also been restricted under the latest curbs.
What remains exempt and how GRAP has changed
Certain activities have been exempted from the ban. Construction linked to essential infrastructure projects — including metro rail, railways, airports, highways, defence installations, healthcare facilities and sanitation-related works — will continue. Vehicles used by persons with disabilities have also been exempted. In addition, schools have been advised to shift to hybrid or online classes for students up to Grade 5.
CAQM has also revised the GRAP framework to ensure earlier intervention as pollution levels rise. Under the updated structure, measures that earlier kicked in at higher pollution thresholds will now be enforced sooner. Stage IV actions, including 50 per cent staff attendance in public, municipal and private offices and work-from-home for central government offices, will now apply when AQI enters the 301–400 range instead of crossing 450.
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Similarly, staggered office timings, earlier part of Stage III, will now begin at an AQI of 201–300, while uninterrupted power supply measures aimed at reducing diesel generator use will be triggered at an AQI of 101–200. Authorities said the changes are aimed at responding faster to worsening air quality and limiting prolonged exposure to hazardous pollution levels. |
