GRADED RESPONSE ACTION PLAN (GRAP) FOR AIR QUALITY 

CONTROL

Background:

– In 2016, the Supreme Court addressed air quality concerns in Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region) through the   M. C. Mehta v. Union of India case.
– The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change introduced GRAP in 2017 to prevent, control, and reduce air pollution.

Objectives:
– Prevent PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations from exceeding the “moderate” national Air Quality Index (AQI) threshold.
Implementation Body:
– Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) was established by the Central Government to oversee GRAP’s execution in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas. GRAP is classified into four stages- namely,

1. Stage 1 (Poor AQI – 201 to 300):
– Ban on construction and demolition at specified sites.
– Proper disposal of solid waste.
– Fines for open burning of waste.
– Road cleaning and occasional watering.
– Compliance of firecracker bans.
– Emission norms for thermal power plants.

2. Stage 2 (Very Poor AQI – 301 to 400):
– Daily mechanized road sweeping.
– Regular dust suppression with water.
– Ensuring uninterrupted power supply to discourage generator use.

3. Stage 3 (Severe AQI – 401 to 450):
– Increased road cleaning.
– Daily road watering before peak hours.
– Varied fees on public transportation to promote off-peak travel.
– Prohibition of most construction activities.
– Possible restrictions on BS-III gasoline and BS-IV diesel vehicles.

4. Stage 4 (Severe Plus AQI – Above 450):
– Prohibition of trucks (except for necessities).
– Ban on most diesel four-wheel LMVs.
– Halt to all construction and demolition.
– Potential emergency measures like school closures, non-emergency business restrictions, and odd-even vehicle schedules.

GRAP serves as a multi-tiered plan to address air quality deterioration, with specific actions taken at each stage to mitigate pollution and protect public health.

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