Why GRAP stage IV have been announced now, what is allowed under them

The sub-committee for invoking actions nether the GRAP earlier imposed Stage I, Stage II and Stage III restrictions connected October 14, October 21 and November 14, respectively. Why has the highest signifier of pollution-related restrictions been announced present and what is permitted and banned nether it? We explain.

What is GRAP?

GRAP is simply a acceptable of exigency measures that footwear successful to forestall further deterioration of aerial prime erstwhile it reaches a definite threshold successful the Delhi-NCR region. Approved by the Supreme Court successful 2016 and notified successful 2017, the program was formulated aft respective meetings the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) held with authorities authorities representatives and experts.

The effect was a program that institutionalised measures to beryllium taken erstwhile aerial prime deteriorates.

GRAP is incremental successful quality and thus, erstwhile the aerial prime dips from ‘poor’ to ‘very poor,’ measures listed nether some sections indispensable beryllium followed. Stage I of GRAP is activated erstwhile the AQI is successful the ‘poor’ class (201 to 300), Stage II is erstwhile it’s successful the ‘very poor’ class (301-400), Stage III is erstwhile the AQI is the ‘Severe’ class (401-450) and yet Stage IV is erstwhile it rises to the ‘Severe +’ class (more than 450).

Why has GRAP IV been imposed now?

The determination was based connected a reappraisal of the aerial prime script and forecasts for meteorological conditions. Delhi’s AQI was 441 connected Sunday evening and breached the threshold by night. The authoritative notification said it is expected to stay successful this adverse scope owing to dense fog, adaptable winds, and highly unfavourable meteorological and climatic conditions.

And what is allowed nether GRAP IV?

GRAP IV says:

1. Stop introduction of motortruck postulation into Delhi (except for trucks carrying indispensable commodities/ providing indispensable services). All LNG/CNG/Electric/BS- VI Diesel trucks shall, however, beryllium permitted to participate Delhi.

2. Do not licence Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) registered extracurricular Delhi, different than EVs/CNG/BS- VI diesel, to participate Delhi, but those carrying indispensable commodities/providing indispensable services.

3. Enforce a strict prohibition connected plying of Delhi registered BS-IV and beneath diesel-operated Medium Goods Vehicles (MGVs) and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) successful Delhi, but those carrying indispensable commodities/providing indispensable services.

4. Ban operation and demolition activities, arsenic successful the GRAP Stage-III, besides for linear nationalist projects specified arsenic highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, powerfulness transmission, pipelines, telecommunications, etc.

5. NCR authorities governments and the Delhi authorities whitethorn instrumentality a determination connected discontinuing carnal classes adjacent for classes VI-IX and people XI, and behaviour lessons successful an online mode.

6. NCR State governments/Delhi authorities to determine connected allowing public, municipal and backstage offices to enactment connected 50% spot and the remainder to enactment from home.

7. Central Government whitethorn marque due decisions connected permitting enactment from location for employees successful cardinal authorities offices.

8. State Governments whitethorn see further exigency measures similar the closure of colleges/ acquisition institutions and closure of non-emergency commercialized activities, permitting moving of vehicles connected odd-even ground of registration numbers etc.

“Further, citizens whitethorn beryllium urged to adhere to the national charter and assistance successful the effectual implementation of the GRAP measures aimed towards sustaining and improving the Air Quality successful the Region,” it says. Children, the aged and those with respiratory cardiovascular, cerebrovascular oregon different chronic diseases should debar outdoor activities and enactment indoors, arsenic overmuch arsenic possible.