GRAP Stage 4 implemented in Delhi-NCR amid severe air pollution: What does it mean?

“Keeping in view the prevailing trend of air quality, in an effort to prevent further deterioration of the air quality, the sub-committee decided that ALL actions as envisaged under Stage IV of the GRAP i.e., ‘Severe+’ category (DELHI AQI >450) be implemented in right earnest by all the agencies concerned in the NCR, with immediate effect,” said the CAQM in a press release issued on Sunday.

What is the Graded Response Action Plan?

GRAP is a set of emergency measures that kick in to prevent further deterioration of air quality once it reaches a certain threshold in the Delhi-NCR region. Approved by the Supreme Court in 2016 and notified in 2017, the plan was formulated after several meetings that the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) held with state government representatives and experts. The result was a plan that institutionalised measures to be taken when air quality deteriorates.

GRAP is incremental in nature and thus, when the air quality dips from ‘poor’ to ‘very poor,’ measures listed under both sections have to be followed. Stage 1 of GRAP is activated when the AQI is in the ‘poor’ category (201 to 300), Stage 2 is when it’s in the ‘Very poor’ category (301-400), Stage 3 is when the AQI is the ‘Severe’ category (401-450) and finally Stage 4 is when it rises to the ‘Severe +’ category (more than 450).

What measures does GRAP Stage 4 entail?

As the AQI in NCR dipped to the ‘severe’ category last week, stage 4 of GRAP was set in motion. A central panel directed authorities to prohibit the use of diesel four-wheelers that are not BS-VI compliant, as well as the entry of trucks in Delhi. Petrol cars can continue to ply as usual.

The BS or Bharat Stage emission standards are instituted by the government to regulate the output of air pollutants from motor vehicles from internal combustion engine equipment. The BS-VI fuel was estimated to bring around an 80% reduction of sulphur, from 50 parts per million to 10 ppm.

The ban on diesel four-wheelers, except BS-VI vehicles and those used for essential and emergency services, will be applicable in Delhi and NCR districts bordering the capital, according to the order. All Delhi-registered diesel medium and heavy goods vehicles are also prohibited from plying in Delhi, except those used for essential or emergency services.

Additionally, construction and demolition activities, including those on linear public projects like highways, roads, flyovers, pipelines and power lines, which were previously allowed to continue, will also be banned.

According to the order, the state governments in the NCR may decide to discontinue physical classes for classes 6 to 9 and class 11, and conduct lessons online. Moreover, the governments may also decide on whether to allow public, private, and municipal offices to work on 50% strength while the rest of the employees work from home.

State governments may also consider other emergency measures like closure of colleges and other educational institutions, and closure of non-emergency commercial activities, permitting vehicles to run on an odd-even basis. The central government may make an appropriate decision on permitting work from home for employees working in central government offices.

What happens next?

The Delhi government on Monday (November 6) directed schools to suspend physical classes, barring classes 10 and 12, until November 10 and reintroduced the odd-even scheme from November 13-20.

The measures were taken considering the likelihood that pollution levels would rise after Diwali, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai told the media.

He also mentioned a weather forecast, indicating that the wind speed in the region could be around 12 kmph on Tuesday, and if wind speed improved over the next two days, the accumulated pollutants might disperse.