GRAP-4 Restrictions in Delhi (GS Paper 3, Environment)
Introduction:
- Delhi, India’s capital, is currently experiencing some of the most hazardous air pollution levels, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) breaching 500, classified as "severe+" under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
- In response, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has imposed Stage-IV measures, marking the highest level of action to address air quality concerns.
- These restrictions aim to control pollution levels, reduce health risks, and ensure that the city’s residents have access to accurate information on what activities are allowed and which are restricted.
The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP):
- The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a framework developed by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in 2017 to deal with escalating air pollution in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).
- The plan divides air quality into four stages, based on AQI levels, with corresponding measures that become stricter as pollution worsens.
The Four Stages of GRAP:
Stage I (AQI: 201-300):
-
- This stage is categorized as "poor" air quality.
- Measures: Public advisories are issued, dust control is enhanced, and there are restrictions on open burning of crop residue and other materials.
Stage II (AQI: 301-400):
-
- "Very poor" air quality, requiring more aggressive action.
- Measures: Restrictions are placed on the use of diesel generators, enhanced mechanized cleaning of roads, and water sprinkling to control dust.
Stage III (AQI: 401-450):
-
- "Severe" air quality.
- Measures: There is a ban on non-essential construction and demolition activities, limits on the entry of heavy vehicles into the city, and suspension of brick kiln operations.
Stage IV (AQI > 450):
-
- "Severe+" air quality, marking the highest level of pollution, with the most stringent measures.
- Measures: Complete ban on construction and demolition work, school closures, and tighter vehicle restrictions, including the introduction of schemes like odd-even.
Key Restrictions Under GRAP-4 (Stage-IV):
With the AQI exceeding 500 on November 18, 2024, Delhi entered Stage-IV (Severe+), resulting in the imposition of GRAP-4 restrictions to control the situation. These restrictions are specifically designed to reduce pollutants and prevent further deterioration of air quality.
Truck Entry Restrictions:
In Stage-IV, truck traffic is a significant contributor to pollution due to vehicle emissions. Therefore, the following measures have been put in place:
What’s Allowed:
-
- Trucks transporting essential goods such as food, medicines, and medical equipment are allowed to enter the city.
- Vehicles running on eco-friendly fuels, such as CNG, LNG, or electric, are also allowed.
- Trucks meeting the BS-VI (Bharat Stage VI) emission standards are allowed as they produce lower levels of harmful pollutants.
What’s Banned:
-
- Trucks carrying non-essential goods are banned from entering Delhi. This is a measure to reduce the overall vehicular emissions in the city.
- Non-Delhi registered Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) are restricted from entering unless they meet the specific eco-friendly fuel or emission standards (CNG, electric, BS-VI).
Construction and Demolition (C&D) Activities:
Construction and demolition activities are major sources of dust and particulate matter, contributing significantly to poor air quality. As part of Stage-IV measures:
What’s Allowed:
-
- Small-scale personal constructions such as home renovations, repairs, and minor work are allowed, provided they don’t generate excessive dust or pollution.
What’s Banned:
-
- All construction and demolition work is suspended, including large infrastructure projects like flyovers, highways, power plants, and even public works such as road construction, pipeline laying, and telecommunication installations.
- These projects are halted because they produce a large amount of dust and other pollutants.
School Operations:
Given the severity of the air quality, schools in Delhi have transitioned to online classes to protect students from exposure to harmful air. Key measures include:
What’s Allowed:
-
- Class 10 and Class 12 students are allowed to attend physical school as they are preparing for board exams, and their educational requirements are critical.
What’s Banned:
-
- For most students, physical classes have been suspended. They are required to switch to online classes to reduce exposure to polluted air.
Work-from-Home Policies:
The Delhi government has also introduced work-from-home measures for employees in public, private, and municipal sectors to reduce traffic emissions and limit people’s exposure to pollution.
What’s Allowed:
-
- Offices: Public and private sector offices, including municipal and government offices, are advised to operate with 50% of staff working from home.
- Educational Institutions: Discussions are ongoing to extend online education to students in Grades 6-9 and 11, with further announcements expected.
What’s Banned:
-
- Full attendance is discouraged in offices, and many workplaces are reducing in-person staffing to minimize traffic congestion and emissions.
Health and Emergency Measures:
Given the hazardous air quality, public health becomes a top priority. The authorities have issued several health advisories:
What’s Allowed:
-
- Residents are encouraged to stay indoors, particularly children, elderly people, and those with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.
- The government has advised people to limit outdoor activities, especially during peak pollution hours.
What’s Banned:
-
- Non-essential outdoor activities, including sports and exercises in open areas, are strongly discouraged to minimize exposure to harmful air pollutants.
Potential Emergency Actions:
As the situation develops, the Delhi government may implement further measures to control pollution, including:
- Suspending non-essential commercial activities like shopping, entertainment, and leisure services to reduce traffic and industrial emissions.
- Restricting operations in colleges and universities to ensure that fewer people are commuting to and from educational institutions.
- Implementing an odd-even vehicle scheme, which could limit the number of cars on the road by allowing only vehicles with certain registration numbers (odd or even) to operate on alternate days.
Public Cooperation and Citizen Participation:
The success of these measures relies heavily on public cooperation. Residents of Delhi are urged to:
- Reduce outdoor activities and stay indoors whenever possible, especially during high pollution hours.
- Support and adhere to government initiatives designed to reduce pollution, such as avoiding the use of private vehicles when possible and reducing the burning of waste.
Conclusion:
- The implementation of Stage-IV GRAP restrictions in Delhi is a necessary and urgent response to the city’s worsening air quality.
- By banning non-essential construction, restricting truck entry, and encouraging work-from-home policies, these measures aim to reduce pollution and protect public health.
- However, these actions can only be successful with widespread public cooperation, as citizens play a critical role in curbing emissions and adhering to the guidelines.
- While these measures may cause temporary disruptions, they are essential for mitigating the long-term health risks associated with severe air pollution and ensuring a cleaner, healthier environment for Delhi's residents.
