New Delhi: In view of the deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR, large-scale changes have been implemented in the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). A few days after the Supreme Court’s permission, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has clarified that now many restrictions of Stage-4 will be directly implemented during Stage-3 only. This means that warnings of extremely serious situations will now be implemented even before that, so that the air can be prevented from getting worse.

This step is being considered very important amid the continuous ‘very poor’ air quality in Delhi and warnings of it falling to critical levels in the coming days. The Supreme Court had remarked on November 19 that CAQM should take “proactive action” in consultation with stakeholders to prevent further deterioration of air quality. Following this instruction, all the stages of GRAP were reorganized.

What is the new change? Stage-4 restrictions now applicable in Stage-3

According to CAQM in the new system:-

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  Stage-4 advisory will now be applicable in Stage-3 (AQI 401-450)

  
  


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  Stage-3 measures will now be implemented in Stage-2 (AQI 301-400)

  
  


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  Stage-2 restrictions will be applicable in Stage-1 (AQI 201-300)

  
  

This means that earlier strict measures to control air pollution will now be implemented at the initial stage of air pollution.

Which steps from GRAP-4 are now part of GRAP-3?

GRAP-3 is already implemented in Delhi-NCR from 11th November. The GRAP-4 guidelines now included in Stage-3 include:-

NCR state governments and Delhi government should decide whether government, municipal corporation and private offices
50% of the employees should work in the office and the rest should work from home. The Central Government can take a suitable decision on work from home for its central employees. Earlier, these measures were implemented only when AQI went above 450.

According to Central Pollution Control Board data, Delhi’s AQI was recorded at 367 at 1:30 pm on Saturday, which falls in the ‘very poor’ category. A day earlier, the AQI was 392, meaning that despite slight improvement, the air has remained seriously polluted for more than a week.

On the other hand, the Air Quality Early Warning System of the Ministry of Earth Sciences has warned that Delhi’s AQI may again reach the ‘severe’ level in the next six days and the air may remain in the ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ category.