‘Severe’ air pollution prompts the implementation of GRAP Stage 4 in Delhi-NCR

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) decided to invoke Stage IV of the GRAP in the entire NCR with immediate effect on Sunday, in addition to all actions under Stages I, II, and III, to prevent further deterioration of air quality in the region.

The CAQM said in a statement that “the Sub-Committee today has taken the call to invoke all actions as envisaged under Stage IV of GRAP ‘Severe Air Quality (Delhi’s AQI 450)’, today with immediate effect in the entire NCR, keeping in mind the prevailing trend of air quality and in an effort to prevent further deterioration of air quality in the region.”

Eight-point action plan for Stage IV of GRAP

1 Limit truck traffic admission into Delhi, excluding all LNG, CNG, and electric trucks as well as vehicles transporting necessities.

2. Save for EVs, CNG, and BS-VI diesel cars; do not permit non-Delhi-registered LCVs to enter Delhi unless they are transporting necessities.

3. Outlaw the use of diesel in heavy and medium-duty trucks registered in Delhi, unless they are used to deliver necessities.

4. In linear public projects such as roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines, etc., stop building and demolition work.

5. Take into account holding online instruction for classes VI–IX and XI in place of traditional classroom settings.

6. Permit fifty percent of employees in public, municipal, and private offices to work from home.

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7. The Central Government will choose whether to allow workers in its offices to work from home.

8. State governments should investigate taking emergency action, such as halting schools and universities and imposing limitations on non-essential business activity depending on the odd-even car registration number.