New Delhi: Amid the worsening condition of air quality of the NCR, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) held an emergency meeting on Saturday.
The committee noted that the quality of air is likely to worsen in the upcoming days due to unfavorable meteorological conditions and a spike in stubble-burning instances.
The committee further considered it necessary to implement ‘Stage III’ of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect in the entire NCR.
The committee has further ordered the agencies like Pollution Control Board (PCB) and DPCC to ensure strict implementation of restrictions under GRAP during this period.
According to reports, CAQM further stated that the authorities may place restrictions on the movement of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers in the NCR.
During the Stage III of GRAP, the Citizens are advised to:
- Choose a cleaner commute, and share rides to travel for work. People in a position to work from home may consider opting for it.
- Do Not use coal and wood for heating purposes. Individual house owners may provide electric heating solutions to security staff during winter to avoid the burning of wood.
With GRAP Stage III in motion, the government has imposed a strict ban on construction and demolition activities in the entire NCR.
The projects exempted from the ban are Railway services / Railway stations Metro Rail Services including stations. Airports and Inter-State Bus Terminals. National security/defence-related activities/ projects of national importance; Hospitals/ health care facilities. Linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, over bridges, power transmission, pipelines, etc. Sanitation projects like sewage treatment plants and water supply projects etc.
The government has imposed ban on the following activities:
- Dust generating/ air pollution causing C&D activities including boring activities, earthwork for excavation and filling activities.
- Demolition work, loading and unloading of construction materials, transfer of raw material either manually or outside the project site.
- Laying of sewer line, waterline, drainage work and electric cabling by open trench system.
- Cutting and fixing of tiles, stones and other flooring materials. Grinding activities.
The GRAP for the National Capital Region (NCR) is classified under four different stages of adverse air quality in the national capital with 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).
(With Agency Inputs)
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