The 27 measures announced under Grap Stage I to combat the deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR are preventive actions, directing govt agencies to intensify measures to control air pollution. This includes stopping construction and demolition (C&D) activities for projects with a plot size equal to or more than 500 sqm that have not yet registered on the respective web portals of Delhi, Haryana or Uttar Pradesh govts.
Among the measures under Stage I are enforcing a complete ban on coal or firewood in tandoors in hotels, restaurants, and open eateries; enforcing orders of NGT and Supreme Court on overage vehicles; carrying out periodic mechanised sweeping and water sprinkling on roads; and ensuring that diesel generator sets are not used as a regular source of power supply.
“While comprehensively reviewing the air quality scenario in the region as well as the air quality forecast, it was noted that there was a notable dip in air quality parameters in the last 24 hours in the region, which led to the AQI for Delhi moving into the ‘poor’ category. The forecasts also predict air quality to mainly remain in ‘poor’ category in the coming days owing to the unfavourable meteorological conditions,” said CAQM in a statement on Monday. It added that all agencies in NCR have been asked to implement Stage I’s measures from 8 am on Tuesday.
CAQM has asked people across NCR to follow steps mentioned in the ‘citizen charter’ of Stage-I of Grap to help in reducing pollution. The measures include reporting air pollution activities through the 311 App, Green Delhi App, and Sameer App; keeping engines tuned properly; ensuring correct tyre pressure; keeping PUC for vehicles up-to-date; not idling vehicles at red lights; preferring hybrid or electric vehicles to control pollution; and celebrating festivals in an eco-friendly manner.
Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, said, “AQI is expected to worsen with the intensification of calm and cold conditions. We need stronger preparedness to prevent pollution build-up. GRAP Stage I and II need to be implemented as default measures for the entire winter period. But the focus has to be on sustained action to control emissions from vehicles, industries, waste burning and solid-fuel burning. The action needs to be scalable across the NCR region and beyond.”
Meanwhile, the maximum temperature was recorded at 34.4 degrees Celsius, one degree above normal, while the minimum temperature dropped to 18.6 degrees C, one notch below normal. The minimum temperature is likely to dip further to around 18 degrees C on Tuesday and 17 degrees C on Wednesday.
In what’s likely the start of Delhi-NCR’s annual toxic-air ordeal in early winter, the capital’s air quality remained in the ‘poor’ zone for the second consecutive day on Monday, prompting measures under Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) to come into force from 8am on Tuesday.
A haze hung over the city on Monday morning as the Air Quality Index (AQI) rose to 234, compared to 224 a day earlier. This is the first time since June 12 this year that Delhi’s AQI has been poor or worse for two straight days. Since the air quality is likely to stay poor over the next few days, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reviewed the situation on Monday and decided to enforce Grap 1. The air quality, which was below 200 until Saturday, started deteriorating from Sunday, following calm wind conditions during the night, low night temperatures, and effigy burning during Dussehra, experts said.
