Centre imposed Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) as the air quality in the city deteriorated and entered the 'severe' category on Thursday. Under the GRAP stage III, non-essential construction work in Delhi-NCR has been banned along with a ban on the entry of diesel-guzzling trucks into the capital.
Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 402 at 5 pm. At a meeting to review the air quality situation in Delhi-NCR, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a statutory body responsible for developing strategies to combat pollution in the region, said that the pollution levels are only "expected to increase further" owing to unfavourable meteorological and climatic conditions.
It also includes a ban on the entry of light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi and diesel-guzzling trucks, and medium and heavy goods vehicles (except those involved in essential services).
What is GRAP III?
The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a set of anti-air pollution measures, which are generally implemented in Delhi-NCR during the winter. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), an autonomous body tasked with improving the air quality in Delhi and its adjoining areas, made crucial changes to the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) last year and again in July.
What are the stages of GRAP?
GRAP 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). Stage III of GRAP involves a complete halt on construction and demolition work except for essential government projects, mining and stone crushing.
(With inputs from PTI)
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