Days after the Supreme Court allowed major revisions to the Graded Response Action Plan in the National Capital Region, some measures of GRAP-4 will be taken under stage 3, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said on Saturday.
GRAP is a set of pollution-control restrictions that take effect in stages as air quality deteriorates. With Delhi already under GRAP Stage III, most pollution curbs have already been implemented.
The main pollution control watchdog in Delhi-NCR, CAQM, has now formally revised the GRAP schedule after the apex court allowed revisions in the measures.
Also Read: GRAP 4 measures to be undertaken as part of GRAP 3 as toxic smog continues to cover Delhi-NCR
The changes were triggered after hearings in the top court on November 17 and 19. The order dated November 21 notes that the court “observed that the Commission may take proactive actions based on consultation with stakeholders for preventing further deterioration of air quality in Delhi-NCR”. The CAQM then held consultations with all departments on November 20 before finalising the revisions.
This means that from now on, several measures such as staggered timings, expanded public transport and even the option of work-from-home will begin at lower pollution levels than earlier.
What are the key changes?
Some measures under GRAP Stage 4, which is enacted when AQI is above 450, will now be implemented when GRAP Stage 3 is enforced. The GRAP Stage 3 is implemented when the AQI remains between 401 and 450. Stage 3 measures will be implemented at Stage 2 (AQI 301-400) and Stage 2 advisories at Stage 1 (AQI 201-300).
Under GRAP 3, these new GRAP Stage 4 measures will be implemented —
- Work-from-home will now kick in one full stage earlier. The order states that NCR governments “can take a decision on allowing public, municipal and private offices to work on 50% strength and the rest to work from home”.
- The Centre may similarly decide work-from-home for central government employees under GRAP-3.
- While there was no instruction for whether schools will permit online classes, existing GRAP 3 rules already allow students up to Class 5 to attend their classes from home.
- Staggered office timings for government and municipal bodies in Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar will now begin at an earlier stage than before. This measure earlier came under stage 3 of GRAP and has now been moved under GRAP Stage 2.
The CAQM emphasised that these changes are effective immediately. “All agencies responsible for implementation of GRAP are now required to take note of the modifications made in the Schedule of GRAP and implement the same immediately,” the order states.
Delhi's overall AQI stood at 360 in the 'very poor' category at 9 am on Saturday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The changes, which were finalised on November 21, brings stricter measures to earlier stages of the short-term plan.
GRAP is an emergency response mechanism for entire NCR, based on Average AQI levels and forecasts for meteorological or weather conditions in Delhi that brings together multiple stakeholders, implementing agencies and authorities in NCR to respond to situations of deteriorating air quality in the region.
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