Ban on trucks and ongoing construction activities lifted but GRAP III still in place: Delhi Minister Gopal Rai

On Sunday morning, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded as 290 or the upper end of the ‘poor’ category, and a day before, AQI fell from the ‘severe’ to the ‘very poor’ category.

While addressing a press conference amid confusion over the restrictions, Rai said, “There is improvement in the air, and the pollution level is down but the public needs to be careful and continue to follow the rules as GRAP I, II and III are still in place. Only restrictions under GRAP IV have been lifted,” he said.

Rai said, “The air quality level of Delhi has seen continuous improvement in the last two days. The AQI level today has reached 290. But I want to request all the people of Delhi and North India to stay alert and continue to follow the rules. The air quality level has improved and had improved earlier last week as well but it deteriorated after Diwali due to violation of the rules and restrictions”.

“As of now, only the restrictions imposed on the trucks’ entries have been lifted but BS-III and BS-IV diesel and petrol vehicles will still be banned from entering the national capital. Similarly, BS-III and BS-IV petrol and diesel interstate buses will not be allowed to enter the city,” he said.

The minister said the ban imposed on construction activities such as the building of flyovers, road development, FOBs, high power tension lines, metro, airport and other ongoing work has been lifted and these can resume. However, restrictions on piling, digging, drilling, boring etc where there are chances of dust pollution, will continue, he added.

Rai said the government will continue to sprinkle water to control dust and hotspots will be monitored closely. Enforcement teams and the Special Task Force will continue to monitor and ensure GRAP III is properly implemented and followed on the ground, he added.