Know what’s allowed and what’s banned across Delhi-NCR
As air quality becomes ‘severe’ in the national capital region, here are what is banned and allowed across Delhi-NCR under phase 3 of Gradrated Response Action Plan (GRAP-3).
Anti-pollution restrictions under Phase 3 of the Phased Response Action Plan (GRAP-3) were reactivated in Delhi on Saturday after the city’s air quality deteriorated to the ‘severe’ category once again. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital reached 409, down from 393 recorded around 8 am. CAQM has directed NCR Pollution Control Boards and other agencies to intensify preventive measures to prevent further deterioration of air quality, including all actions under Phase III in addition to existing measures under Phases I and II. Here are what is prohibited and allowed in Delhi-NCR under GRAP III.
Implementation of GRAP III in Delhi-NCR: What is allowed?
Essential infrastructure and utility projects including:
- Metro, railway, airport, highway, defense, health and cleaning projects
- Construction work for critical projects with strict dust control and waste management
- Vehicles used by disabled people
- Recommended Precautions:
- Public transport use
- Hybrid/online school classes through Grade 5
GRAP III imposed in Delhi-NCR: What is not allowed
- Construction and Demolition: Non-essential activities such as excavation, pile driving, open trenching, welding, painting, plastering, tiling/tiling and RMC facilities are prohibited.
- Transportation: Movement of construction materials such as cement, sand and fly ash is limited on unpaved roads.
- Industrial Activities: Stone crushers, brick kilns and mining activities were stopped.
- Vehicles: BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers, non-essential diesel-powered mid-range vehicles and interstate diesel buses not running on CNG, electric or BS-VI standards are restricted.
- Industries: Those using unapproved fuels are also affected.
GRAP 3 in Delhi-NCR
While the Delhi Air Quality Index (AQI) ranged between 401-450, CAQM said: “Considering the current trend in air quality and with a view to preventing further deterioration of air quality in the region, the CAQM GRAP Sub-Committee has today taken the call to initiate all actions envisaged under Phase III of existing GRAP with immediate effect in the entire NCR. This, CAQM stated that the existing GRAP is already in force in NCR. The decision to introduce GRAP III is the same.” This comes at a time when the Delhi Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) has predicted that air quality is expected to remain in the ‘severe’ category on Sunday and improve to very poor category on Monday, the AQEWS bulletin said, “Air quality on Sunday is likely to be in the severe category. Air quality on Monday is likely to be in the very poor category. “The outlook for the next six days is that air quality is likely to be in the very poor category.”
