With air quality index taking a deep plunge into the ‘severe plus’ category in Delhi NCR, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) stage 3 norms returned. With a thick layer of fog covering the Indo-Gangetic plains in North India on Sunday, visibility in some places sinking down to 0.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a statutory body under the central government, reinforced GRAP 3 norms in the entire National Capital Region (NCR) including Delhi and its adjoining areas including Faridabad, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar districts.
GRAP 3 norms: BS4 diesel, BS3 diesel cars banned
This was confirmed by Delhi Transport Minister, Kailash Gahlot on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday which mentioned the ban on plying of BS4 diesel and BS3 petrol cars (LMVs) in Delhi till further orders. Anyone found flouting these directives could be fined up to Rs 20,000.
Besides BS4 diesel and BS3 petrol cars, the CAQM has also posed restrictions on non-essential construction and demolition work including use of stone crushers have been prohibited. The Centre has also instructed to close down all mining operations in Delhi NCR. Movement of vehicles on unpaved roads have also been temporarily halted.
The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is the Centre’s air pollution control plan implemented in the region during the winter season. It categorises actions into four stages: Stage I – ‘Poor’ (AQI 201-300); Stage II – ‘Very Poor’ (AQI 301-400); Stage III – ‘Severe’ (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV – ‘Severe Plus’ (AQI>450).
