
New Delhi: Due to the alarming rise in the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), the Sub-Committee on the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has immediately activated all measures under Stage III (‘Severe’ Air Quality) and Stage IV (‘Severe+’ Air Quality) across the entire Delhi NCR.
These actions are in addition to the existing measures under Stages I and II of the revised GRAP. Agencies responsible, including the Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, are directed to strictly enforce all measures under Stages III and IV, as well as the ongoing actions under Stages I and II.
In today’s meeting, the Sub-Committee reviewed the air quality in the region and noted the following:
On January 14, 2025, Delhi’s AQI was reported at 275, but it surged to 386 on January 15 due to dense fog and low temperatures, which hindered pollutant dispersion. By 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM, the AQI rose to 393 and 396, respectively, driven by increasing pollutant concentrations. Predictions from the IMD and IITM suggest the AQI may soon exceed 400.
To address the worsening air quality, the Sub-Committee has decided to take immediate action. The 9-point action plan for Stage III and the 7-point action plan for Stage IV of the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) will be implemented across the National Capital Region (NCR) right away, involving various agencies, including the Pollution Control Boards and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).
Steps under Stage III of the revised GRAP include:
- Construction and Demolition activities:
(i) Enforce strict restrictions on the following categories of dust-generating/ air pollution-causing C&D activities in the entire NCR:
- Earthwork for excavation and filling including boring & drilling works.
- Piling works.
- All demolition works.
- Laying of sewer line, water line, drainage, electric cabling etc. by open trench system.
- Brick/masonry works.
- Operation of RMC batching plant.
- Major welding and gas-cutting operations. Minor welding activities for MEP works (Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing) are to be, however, permitted.
- Painting, polishing and varnishing works etc.
- Cement, Plaster / other coatings, except for minor indoor repairs/ maintenance.
- Cutting/grinding and fixing of tiles, stones and other flooring materials, except for minor indoor repairs/ maintenance.
- Road construction activities and major repairs.
- Transfer, loading/unloading of dust-generating materials like cement, fly ash, bricks, sand, murram, pebbles, crushed stone etc. anywhere within/outside the project sites.
- Movement of vehicles carrying construction materials on unpaved roads.
- Any transportation of demolition waste.
(ii) All construction-related activities, other than those listed under 1(i) above, which are relatively less polluting / less dust-generating shall be permitted to be continued in the NCR, subject to strict compliance of the C&D Waste Management Rules, dust prevention/ control norms including compliance with the directions of the Commission issued from time to time.
(iii) All Construction and Demolition activities, including those under 1(i) above, shall continue to be permitted only for the following categories of projects, however subject to strict compliance with the C&D Waste Management Rules, dust prevention/ control norms including compliance with the directions of the Commission issued from time to time:
- Projects for Railway services and stations
- Projects for Metro Rail Services and stations
- Airports and Inter State Bus Terminals
- National security/defence-related activities/ projects of national importance
- Hospitals/healthcare facilities
- Linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, over bridges, power transmission/ distribution, pipelines, telecommunication services etc.
- Sanitation projects like sewage treatment plants and water supply projects etc.
- Ancillary activities, specific to and supplementing the above project categories.
- Close down operations of stone crushers in the entire NCR.
- Close down all mining and associated activities in the entire NCR.
- NCR State Governments/GNCTD to impose strict restrictions on plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel LMVs (4 wheelers) in Delhi and in the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.
Note: Persons with Disabilities shall be permitted to ply BS – III Petrol / BS – IV Diesel LMVs, provided that these are specifically adopted for them and are run only for their personal use.
- GNCTD to impose strict restrictions on plying of Delhi – registered Diesel operated Medium Goods Vehicles (MGVs) to BS-IV standards or below, in Delhi, except those vehicles carrying essential commodities / providing essential services.
- GNCTD to not permit BS-IV and below diesel-operated LCVs (goods carriers) registered outside Delhi, to enter Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities / providing essential services.
(i) State Governments in the NCR and the GNCTD to mandatorily conduct classes in schools for children up to class V in a “Hybrid” mode i.e., both in physical and online mode (wherever online mode is feasible) in the territorial jurisdiction of the NCT of Delhi and in the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar.
(ii) The NCR State Governments may also consider conducting classes for students up to Class V in a “Hybrid” mode as above in other areas in NCR.
Note: The option to exercise the online mode of education, wherever available, shall vest with the students and their guardians.
(i) GNCTD and NCR State Governments to stagger timings for public offices and municipal bodies in the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar.
(ii) State Governments may make a decision to stagger timings for public offices and municipal bodies in other areas of NCR.
- The Central Government may decide on staggering of timings of Central Government offices in Delhi–NCR.
Steps under Stage IV of the revised GRAP include:
- Stop entry of truck traffic into Delhi (except for trucks carrying essential commodities/ providing essential services.)
All LNG/ CNG/ Electric/ BS-VI Diesel trucks shall however be permitted to enter Delhi.
- Enforce a strict ban on the plying of Delhi-registered diesel-operated BS-IV and below Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) in Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities/ providing essential services.
- Ban C&D activities, as in the GRAP Stage‑III, also for linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines, telecommunication etc.
(i) State Governments in the NCR and the GNCTD to mandatorily conduct classes in schools for children even for higher classes i.e. from class VI to IX and XI in a “Hybrid” mode i.e., both in physical and online mode (wherever online mode is feasible) in the territorial jurisdiction of the NCT of Delhi and the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar.
(ii) The NCR State Governments may also consider conducting classes for students as above in a “Hybrid” mode in other areas in NCR.
Note: The option to exercise the online mode of education, wherever available, shall vest with the students and their guardians.
- NCR State Governments / GNCTD to take a decision on allowing public, municipal and private offices to work on 50% strength and the rest to work from home.
- The Central Government may make appropriate decisions on permitting work from home for employees in central government offices.
- State Governments may consider additional emergency measures like the closure of colleges/ educational institutions and closure of non‑emergency commercial activities, permitting the running of vehicles on an odd-even basis of registration numbers etc.
– global bihari bureau