GRAP 3, GRAP 3 Delhi, What is GRAP 3, GRAP 3 Banned Activities List: India's national capital Delhi, and its surrounding areas have become a gas chamber after the Air Quality Index started to rise even before Diwali 2024. Delhi and its surrounding states have been witnessing a rise in Air Pollution and a thick layer of smog has been covering them. While the Supreme Court has taken cognizance of the matter, it is the people who continue to suffer in New Delhi. Multiple areas of New Delhi on Thursday evening registered AQI level of 450 i.e. 'Severe' category. As a result, the Delhi Administration decided to enforce GRAP 3 in order to curb Air Pollution. Now, the question arises what is GRAP and what are activities that have been banned under the Stage 3 category in New Delhi?
What is GRAP, imposed in New Delhi amid worsening AQI?
GRAP or Graded Response Action Plan is a set of emergency measures that are imposed to prevent the deterioration of air quality once it reaches a certain AQI level. GRAP is divided into four stages and therefore restrictions are different based on different stages. Stage 1 of GRAP kicks in when the AQI is in the 'poor' category (201 to 300).
GRAP's second, third, and fourth stages start three days ahead of the AQI reaching the 'very poor' category (301 to 400), 'severe' category (401 to 450), and 'severe +' category (above 450) respectively. Notably, if measures under Stage 2 are activated, measures under Stage 1 will continue to remain in place.
List of activities that are banned under GRAP 3?
- Construction work and demolition activities
- Operation of stone crushers
- All mining-associated activities
- Plying of BS III petrol vehicles and BS IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi and districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar
- Physical classes of school children may be discontinued depending on the government's decision
Schools closed in Delhi due to rising AQI?
In-person lessons for elementary school students have been halted in Delhi suggests Free Press Journal. Online education will take place. Older students have limitations on engaging in outdoor activities. The measures to reduce pollution levels started at 8 am on Friday as a means of limiting emissions.
Under the GRAP-III, main roads will receive a daily water spray. The Delhi Metro plans to increase weekday trips by 20 more to help decrease vehicular pollution, in addition to the 40 extra trips introduced during GRAP-II.
Is GRAP implemented in Delhi for the first time?
The answer is no. GRAP Stage II was also implemented in 2022. In 2022, for the first time, GRAP specified that State governments in the NCR may impose restrictions on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers under Stage-3, or when the AQI is likely to reach the ‘severe’ category. In the ‘severe +’ category, GRAP imposes a ban on sale of four-wheelers in Delhi and NCR districts bordering Delhi, except for BS-VI vehicles and those plying for emergency or essential services. Under this category, there will also be a ban on the movement of Delhi-registered, diesel-operated medium and heavy goods vehicles in Delhi, with exceptions for those carrying essential commodities or providing essential services.