GRAP-IV invoked in Delhi as air quality turns 'severe'

The state government may consider other emergency measures, such as allowing vehicles to be driven on an odd-even basis based on registration numbers.

As the Delhi-NCR air quality index (AQI) slipped into the severe category on November 5, restrictions under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) came into effect.

As per the guidelines set forth by the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM), an eight-point action plan based on Stage IV of GRAP is now applicable throughout the NCR.

The plan includes steps such as stopping the entry of truck traffic into Delhi (except for trucks carrying essential commodities/ providing essential services and all LNG/ CNG/ electric trucks) and banning Delhi-registered diesel-operated Medium Goods Vehicles (MGVs) and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) in Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities/ providing essential services.

The NCR state government may decide to discontinue physical classes even for classes VI-IX and class XI and conduct lessons in an online mode.

The authorities will also decide whether to let 50 percent of the public, municipal, and private sector workforce work from home.

The state government may consider other emergency measures, such as allowing vehicles to be driven on an odd-even basis based on registration numbers, closing colleges and other educational institutions during non-emergency situations, and closing commercial operations.