CAQM bans construction work in Delhi-NCR, builders worry about project delay

Centre’s air quality panel bans construction in Delhi-NCR, builders say it will delay projects deliveries

In view of the deteriorating air quality levels in the national capital region, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which includes a ban on all non-essential construction and demolition activities in Delhi-NCR, officials said.

The implementation of GRAP-III rules has caused a stir in the real estate sector, with developers highlighting concerns over how the ban on non-essential construction work may cause delays in the delivery of projects, thereby impacting homebuyers. They pointed out that a one-month ban on construction work delays a project by at least two to three months.

This is the second time this winter that non-essential construction and demolition activities have been banned by the Centre’s air quality panel. Before this, the CAQM had invoked GRAP III measures on November 3; these were revoked after 26 days on November 30, 2023.

GRAP action depends on four stages of pollution: 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 above 450).

According to CAQM officials, Delhi's overall AQI has been deteriorating since morning on December 22 as it was 397 at 10 am and deteriorated to 409 at 4 pm. Apart from construction and demolition activities, works such as stone crushing and mining will also remain suspended in Delhi-NCR during the GRAP III, they said.

However, construction work related to national security or defense, projects of national importance, healthcare, railways, metro rail, airports, interstate bus terminals, highways, roads, and flyovers among others is exempted from the ban.

GRAP-III also includes a ban on the entry of BS-IV diesel light commercial vehicles (LCVs), BS-III petrol vehicles, trucks, and medium and heavy goods vehicles registered outside Delhi (except those involved in the provision of essential services).

Delhi Govt’s Transport Dept orders for restrictions to ply BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel LMVs (4 wheeler) in Delhi with immediate effect till further orders, as CAQM ordered for implementation of GRAP-3: Delhi Govt pic.twitter.com/T0SjyNnDHl

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— ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2023

Manoj Gaur, President of NCR Chapter of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI), said the blanket ban on construction activities to arrest air pollution may not only lead to delays in deliveries of projects but also increase project costs.

“A one-month construction ban leads to delays of at least two to three months in project completion thereby delaying the delivery of units,” he said, adding that RERA-registered projects (commercial as well as residential) should be considered public interest projects and be exempt from pollution control guidelines.

Builders suggested that authorities adopt a case-to-case approach when implementing air pollution regulations.

Nikhil Hawelia, Managing Director, Hawelia Group, said that real estate construction is not a major contributor to pollution but vehicular emissions and roadside dusts are. The authorities should also focus on controlling these sources of pollution.

“There should be a case-to-case approach when it comes to banning construction of real estate projects. Construction activities should not be banned at sites where the AQI level is not deteriorating and all pollution control norms are being followed,” Hawelia told Moneycontrol.

He said that banning construction activities also adversely impacts the labourers engaged at real estate project sites. “They become jobless and often go back to their hometowns. If a site is shut for 10 days then it takes another 15-20 days to mobilise the workforce which again delays the project,” Hawelia said.