CAQM flags 'serious deficiencies' in GRAP implementation across Delhi-NCR

According to the Air Quality Warning System, Delhi’s air quality is likely to remain in the ‘very poor’ category on Tuesday and continue at similar levels over the next two days.

• CAQM found major lapses in anti-pollution measures across Delhi-NCR under GRAP
• Construction site inspections and road sweeping were significantly below required levels.
• Delhi's air quality improves slightly but stays 'very poor' and 'severe'

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The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has flagged “serious deficiencies” in the implementation of mandatory anti-pollution measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), citing widespread non-compliance during periods of severe air pollution.

In a detailed review of performance reports submitted by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) of NCR states, the Commission found significant gaps in the enforcement of measures prescribed under Stage III and Stage IV of GRAP. “Shortfalls ranging from 7 percent to as high as 99.6 percent were observed across several mandated actions,” CAQM said in a statement.

The Commission noted that the GRAP Monitoring Control Room, established to track daily compliance, has been continuously monitoring actions taken by agencies to curb air pollution. However, the review revealed persistent failures, particularly in inspections of construction and demolition (C&D) sites and mechanical road sweeping.

During Stage III of the extant GRAP, as of January 2, 2025, inspections of C&D sites measuring 500 square metres and above were found to be grossly inadequate. Delhi recorded an average shortfall of 87 percent, while Haryana’s NCR districts reported a gap of 99.6 percent. Rajasthan (NCR) and Uttar Pradesh (NCR) also showed major deficiencies, with inspection gaps of 84 percent and 96 percent, respectively.

Similar lapses continued during Stage IV, as on December 24, 2025. Inspections of large construction sites remained critically low, with average shortfalls of 87 percent in Delhi, 100 percent in Haryana (NCR), 79 percent in Rajasthan (NCR) and 97 percent in Uttar Pradesh (NCR).

Mechanical road sweeping, another key pollution-control measure, also remained far below prescribed levels. During Stage III, the length of roads mechanically swept showed a gap of 69 percent each in Delhi and Haryana (NCR). Rajasthan (NCR) recorded a shortfall of 31 percent, while Uttar Pradesh (NCR) marginally exceeded the requirement by 4 percent.

Deployment of mechanical road sweeping machines was also inadequate. Delhi recorded an average gap of 59 percent, while Haryana (NCR) reported a shortfall of 13 percent. On the other hand, Rajasthan (NCR) and Uttar Pradesh (NCR) exceeded the prescribed norms, the Commission said.

The CAQM also highlighted weak grievance redressal mechanisms across NCR states.

"During Stage III, unresolved complaints ranged from 47 percent to 71 percent across NCR states,” the Commission said, adding that the situation worsened during Stage IV. "Unresolved complaints ranged between 68 percent and 81 percent in Delhi, Haryana (NCR) and Uttar Pradesh (NCR). Even isolated complaints in Rajasthan (NCR) remained unresolved," it said.

Terming the recurring lapses "serious", the Commission said such failures during periods of ‘severe’ and ‘severe-plus’ air quality "seriously compromise the collective efforts towards abatement of air pollution in Delhi-NCR". CAQM emphasised that “strict and timely implementation of GRAP measures is mandatory and binding”.

The Commission has directed the DPCC and other SPCBs to identify officers responsible for the failures in the implementation of GRAP measures and to initiate appropriate proceedings against them.

Meanwhile, Delhi’s three-day spell of ‘severe’ air pollution ended on Tuesday morning, with the city’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) showing a marginal improvement to 395, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category.

Despite the improvement, air quality remained alarming at several locations. Of the monitoring stations reporting data, 23 were still in the ‘severe’ category, 14 were in ‘very poor’, and one station recorded ‘poor’ air quality, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s Sameer app.

Wazirpur recorded the worst air quality with an AQI of 445, followed by Anand Vihar at 444 and Jahangirpuri at 443.

Under the CPCB classification, an AQI between 401 and 500 is considered ‘severe’, while readings between 301 and 400 fall in the ‘very poor’ category.

The city had recorded ‘severe’ air quality for three consecutive days, Saturday, Sunday and Monday,  following which the CAQM imposed Stage IV restrictions under GRAP.

According to the Air Quality Warning System, Delhi’s air quality is likely to remain in the ‘very poor’ category on Tuesday and continue at similar levels over the next two days.

Weather conditions offered limited relief, with the minimum temperature settling at 7.2 degrees Celsius. Station-wise data showed minimum temperatures of 8.8 degrees Celsius at Palam, 9 degrees Celsius at Ridge, 8 degrees Celsius at Ayanagar and 7.6 degrees Celsius at Lodhi Road, while Safdarjung recorded the city’s lowest minimum temperature at 7.2 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature is expected to reach around 24 degrees Celsius, accompanied by moderate fog.