As a toxic haze once again blanketed Delhi and its surrounding regions, the central government on Tuesday imposed Stage III restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) after air quality dipped into the ‘severe’ category.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) stated that Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) jumped sharply from 362 on Monday to 425 on Tuesday, primarily due to calm winds, low temperatures, and stagnant atmospheric conditions that prevented pollutants from dispersing.
What Is Restricted Under GRAP Stage 3
To curb pollution levels, several curbs have been enforced across Delhi-NCR:
- Ban on non-essential construction and demolition work, including earthwork, piling, trenching, and open-air operations of Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC) plants.
- Closure of stone crushers, mining, and hot-mix plants not operating on clean fuels.
- Prohibition on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi and neighbouring NCR districts (with exemptions for persons with disabilities and emergency services).
- Ban on the transport of construction materials such as sand and cement, especially on unpaved roads.
- Restriction on diesel generator sets, except those used for emergency and essential services.
- Advisory for private offices to adopt work-from-home or hybrid arrangements to reduce vehicular emissions.
- Closure of schools up to Class 5, with classes shifted online to protect young children from exposure to toxic air.
What Is Allowed Under GRAP Stage 3
Certain essential activities and public projects are exempt from the curbs, provided they follow strict environmental norms:
- Construction work related to railways, metro projects, airports, defence, sanitation, and healthcare facilities.
- Use of diesel generator sets only for emergency or critical functions.
- Public transport, emergency services, and vehicles running on cleaner fuels are allowed to operate as usual.
Delhi’s Battle With Toxic Air
Every winter, the Delhi-NCR region enforces GRAP measures in four escalating stages based on AQI levels — from Stage I (Poor) to Stage IV (Severe Plus). Experts say the city’s worsening pollution is caused by a combination of vehicular emissions, stubble burning, industrial activities, and unfavourable weather conditions that trap pollutants near the surface.
Authorities have urged residents to limit outdoor activities, use masks or air purifiers, and follow health advisories as pollution levels continue to remain hazardous.
