Combating air pollution, Delhi initiates Graded Response Action Plan with stringent plans on air quality

The layer covering dust and unwanted pollutants creating the air to spread hazardous health problems has hit the city of Delhi. People covering faces, using mask as the air creates pollution hampering the health of people.

In order to combat air pollution, the Delhi NCR has initiated an emergency plan called Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), stringent actions are implemented based on the air quality of the city.

If the air quality lies in moderate to poor category- measures like stopping garbage burning in landfills and other places, and enforcing all pollution control regulations in brick kilns and industries would be implemented.

If the air quality falls in the very poor category, additional measures of stopping use of diesel generator sets, enhancing parking fees 3-4 times and increasing frequency of metro and buses would be implemented. If the air quality falls in the severe category, additional measures would be implemented of increasing frequency of mechanised cleaning of roads, sprinkling of water on roads and identifying road stretches with high dust generation.

If the air quality falls to severe plus emergency category, then measures like stopping entry of trucks into Delhi (except essential commodities), stopping construction activities and appointment of task force to take decision on any additional steps, including shutting of schools, are implemented.

The measures depending upon the air quality will be implemented from today.

Currently the air quality is in the poor category but authorities have predicted that it would reach the ‘very poor’ category in the next couple of days. In addition to GRAP, the CPCB has also deployed 41 teams across the Delhi NCR to monitor proper implementation of norms enforced to prevent pollution.