Delhi Air Pollution: CAQM revises curbs under each GRAP phase; measures under Stage 4 to be enforced at Stage 3

The Commission for Air Quality Management on Saturday updated and added new restrictions to each phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for Delhi-NCR and adjoining regions. The body has advanced several previously Stage IV measures to Stage III in an effort to respond more quickly to worsening air quality in the area.

Under the revised framework, stricter actions will now be taken when the Air Quality Index (AQI) enters the ‘Poor’, ‘Very Poor’, or ‘Severe’ range under Stage III, instead of waiting for the more critical Stage IV level.

"All the agencies responsible for implementation of GRAP in NCR have been directed to take note of modifications made in the revised GRAP Schedule and implement the same immediately in the region," said an official notificiation from the CAQM.


Among the key measures from Stage IV that are now applicable at Stage III are:

• NCR state governments and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) must decide whether public, municipal, and private offices should operate with only 50% manpower physically present, while the remaining employees work from home.
• The Central Government may also consider allowing work-from-home arrangements for staff in its offices, depending on prevailing conditions and feasibility.

In addition, several measures earlier under Stage II have now been moved to Stage I, which applies when the AQI falls within the ‘Poor’ range (201–300). These include:

• Ensure uninterrupted power supply to discourage use of alternate powerGenerating sets/ equipment (DG sets etc.).
• Synchronize traffic movements and deploy adequate personnel at intersections/ traffic congestion points for smooth flow of traffic.
• Alert in newspapers / TV / radio to advise people about air pollution levels and Do's and Don'ts for minimizing polluting activities.
• Augment public transport services through CNG/ electric buses and metro services by inducting additional fleet and increasing the frequency of service.Introduce differential rates to encourage off - peak travel.

Further, measures earlier planned for Stage III will now come into effect at Stage II, applicable when air quality reaches the ‘Very Poor’ category (301–400). Among those added to Stage II are:

• GNCT 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.
• State Governments may take a decision to stagger timings for public offices and municipal bodies in other areas of NCR.
• Central Government may take a decision on staggering of timings of Central Government offices in Delhi - NCR.

The move comes as Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ category on Saturday, with an average AQI reading of 359, showed data from the Air Quality Early Warning System. Although this marked a slight improvement from Friday’s average level of 364, a thick layer of toxic smog continued to linger over several parts of the city during the early hours.