New Delhi: Citizens are again breathing poison in the face of deteriorating air quality index (AQI) in the gas chamber of Delhi! The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi since 10 a.m. today was on a sharp increase and at 4 p.m. the average AQI clocked 392 as per the daily AQI Bulletin provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Further, the average AQI for Delhi at 5 p.m. stood at 402 which, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is only expected to increase further owing to the highly unfavourable meteorological and climatic conditions that include sudden increase in the farm fire incidents and North-Westerly winds moving the pollutants to the national capital region (NCR).
In the wake of the deteriorating air quality of Delhi-NCR, the Sub-Committee for operationalization of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) met today to “comprehensively” review the overall air quality scenario in the region as well as the forecasts for meteorological conditions and air quality index made available by India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).
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Keeping in view the prevailing trend of air quality and to prevent further deterioration of air quality in the region, the Sub-Committee today invoked all actions as envisaged under Stage-III of GRAP – ‘Severe’ Air Quality (AQI ranging between 401-450), with immediate effect in the entire NCR.
This was in addition to the restrictive actions mentioned in Stage I and Stage II of GRAP. Various agencies responsible for implementing measures under GRAP and Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of NCR and Delhi Pollution Control Committee have also been advised to ensure strict implementation of actions under Stage-III of GRAP in addition to actions under Stage I and Stage II of GRAP during this period. In 2022, Stage III of GRAP was invoked in October but this year Stage III of the revised GRAP is invoked in November.
An 8-point action plan as per Stage III of GRAP is applicable with immediate effect from today in the entire NCR. This 8-point action plan includes steps to be implemented/ ensured by different agencies and Pollution Control Boards of NCR and DPCC. These steps are:
- Intensify the frequency of mechanised/ vacuum-based sweeping of roads.
- Ensure daily water sprinkling along with dust suppressants, before peak traffic hours, on roads and right of ways including hotspots, and heavy traffic corridors and ensure proper disposal of the collected dust in designated sites/ landfills.
- Intensify public transport services. Introduce differential rates to encourage off-peak travel.
- Construction and Demolition activities:
(i) Enforce a strict ban on construction and demolition activities in the entire NCR, except for the following categories of projects:
- Projects for Railway services / Railway 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 etc.
- Sanitation projects like sewage treatment plants and water supply projects etc.;
- Ancillary activities, specific to and supplementing the above-noted categories of projects.
However, the above exemptions shall be further subject to strict compliance of the construction and demolition (C&D) waste management rules, and dust prevention/ control norms including compliance with the directions of the Commission issued from time to time in this regard.
(ii) Other than the projects exempted under (i) above, dust-generating/ air pollution causing C&D activities to be strictly banned during this period shall include:
- Earthwork for excavation and filling including boring & drilling works.
- All structural construction works including fabrication and welding operations.
- Demolition works.
- Loading & unloading of construction materials anywhere within or outside the project sites.
- Transfer of raw materials either manually or through conveyor belts, including fly ash.
- Movement of vehicles on unpaved roads.
- Operation of batching plant.
- Laying of sewer line, waterline, drainage work and electric cabling by open trench system.
- Cutting and fixing of tiles, stones and other flooring materials.
- Grinding activities.
- Piling work.
- Waterproofing work.
- Painting, Polishing and varnishing works etc.
- Road construction/ repair works including paving of sidewalks/pathways and central verges etc.
(iii) For all construction projects in NCR, non‑polluting/non-dust generating activities such as plumbing works, electrical works, carpentry-related works and interior furnishing/finishing/decoration works (excluding painting, polishing and varnishing works etc) shall be permitted to continue.
- Close down operations of stone crushers
- Close down all mining and associated activities in the NCR.
- NCR State Governments/Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (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.
- State Governments in NCR and GNCTD may decide on discontinuing physical classes in schools for children up to Class V and conducting classes in an online mode.
Further, the CAQM appealed to the citizens of NCR to cooperate in implementing GRAP and follow the steps mentioned in the Citizen Charter under GRAP. Citizens were advised to:
- Walk or use cycles for small distances.
- Choose a cleaner commute. Share a ride to work or use public transport.
- People, whose positions allow working from home, may work from home.
- Do not use coal and wood for heating purposes.
- Individual house owners may provide electric heaters (during winter) to security staff to avoid open burning.
- Combine errands and reduce trips.
– global bihari bureau
