Delhi air quality nears AQI 600, GRAP-4 implemented in National Capital Region; know restrictions under each GRAP stage

Air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR have risen to alarming levels and the Air Quality Index (AQI) has crossed the 600 mark in many areas. Cities like Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad are exposed to severely toxic air and pose serious health risks to residents. In response to the worsening situation, authorities activated GRAP Phase 4, the highest level of emergency pollution control measures under the Phased Response Action Plan.

The GRAP framework outlines four levels of restrictions that increase depending on the severity of air quality. Here’s a breakdown of what each stage entails:

Restrictions Under GRAP Phase 1

The first phase of GRAP focuses on reducing emissions from key daily sources. This stage usually includes:

• Banning the use of coal in small restaurants, dabas and restaurants
• Ban on open burning of waste
• Additional preventive steps taken by authorities to reduce pollution from various local sources

What Does GRAP Stage 2 Restrict?

As pollution levels worsen, Stage 2 introduces stricter rules aimed at reducing vehicle emissions and controlling dust:

• Complete ban on diesel generator sets (except for essential services)
• Parking fees increased to discourage private vehicle use
• Deployment of water sprinkling and smoke suppression teams to suppress roadside dust
• Potential restrictions on BS-IV diesel vehicles entering NCR

Rules Applied Within the Scope of GRAP Stage 3

Stage 3 measures come into force when air quality reaches the ‘Severe’ category. This includes:

• Stopping non-essential construction activities such as excavation, piling and demolition
• Complete ban on BS-III and BS-IV diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR
• Tighter monitoring of stone crushers, mining sites and heavy diesel-powered machinery
• Possible closure of schools up to Grade 5 to protect young children from hazardous weather
• Penalties and legal action for violation of these norms

GRAP Phase 4: Toughest Restrictions Now Active

With Delhi’s pollution entering the emergency zone, Phase 4 protocols have now been put in place. These include some of the most stringent measures:

• Ban on entry of trucks into Delhi except those carrying essential goods or running on cleaner fuels like CNG, LNG, BS-VI diesel or electricity
• Suspension of construction activities at public and government project sites
• Ban on non-essential commercial vehicles from outside Delhi, except CNG and BS-VI diesel vehicles
• A directive allowing or requiring 50% work from home for employees in both government and private offices
• All restrictions under GRAP Phases 1, 2 and 3 will continue to apply simultaneously

As Delhi-NCR battles one of the worst pollution phases in months, these tiered GRAP guidelines aim to slow down the rise in toxic air levels. Officials continue to urge citizens to limit outdoor exposure and take necessary precautions to protect their health.