CAQM Rolls Back GRAP 3 Restrictions In Delhi-NCR As Air Quality Shows Significant Improvement

New Delhi: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has revoked the Stage-3 restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR, citing improved air quality. Notably, the air quality index (AQI) in Delhi dropped to 324, below the threshold for invoking Stage-3 actions. With the revocation of GRAP 3 restrictions, several curbs have been eased in the Delhi-NCR, including ease on petrol and diesel vehicles.

According to the officials, after the revoking of the GRAP 3 restrictions, the ban on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel cars has been lifted, although persons with disabilities were exempt from this restriction earlier.

Apart from vehicular relaxation, all non-essential construction work in the private sector, which was halted under Stage 3, can now resume.

Not only the vehicles and the construction works, classes up to grade 5, which were shifted to hybrid mode under Stage 3, can now return to regular classes.

Under the GRAP-3 regulations, strict measures were implemented to curb air pollution. These included a ban on non-essential construction and demolition activities, the operation of industries and brick kilns using non-clean fuels, and non-essential diesel generator sets.

Diesel trucks transporting non-essential goods were prohibited from entering Delhi, and the open burning of garbage and biomass was strictly forbidden. Additionally, schools were instructed to shift classes up to Grade 5 to a hybrid mode of learning under Stage 3 provisions.

"Actions under Stage-I & II of the revised GRAP shall, however, remain invoked and be implemented, monitored and reviewed by all the agencies concerned in the entire NCR to ensure that the AQI levels do not slip further. All implementing agencies shall keep strict vigil and especially intensify measures under Stage-I & II of the revised GRAP," the commission said. 

However, after the lifting of the GRAP 3 restriction, actions under Stage-1 and Stage-2 of GRAP will remain in force in the region to ensure air quality continues to improve.