New Delhi: The Commission for Air Quality Management has modified some measures under the Graded Response Action Plan following the Supreme Court’s order to consider incorporating in Stage II of GRAP certain measures that are currently scheduled for Stage III. The revised measures have come into force with immediate effect.
Under the new modified Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), inter-state buses from NCR states other than e-vehicles and those using CNG or are diesel BS VI emission level compliant cannot enter Delhi (excluding buses and Tempo Travellers operating on All India Tourist Permit). Residents’ welfare associations must now necessarily provide electric heaters to people hired for security, sanitation, horticulture and other miscellaneous services to prevent open burning of biomass or municipal solid waste. The restriction on diesel generator sets on dual fuel mode with a capacity of 19 kW (23 kVA) to less than 41 kW (51 kVA) has also been relaxed.
The measures implemented under Stage II include augmenting public transport services through CNG/electric buses and Delhi Metro services by inducting additional fleet and increasing the frequency of service, enhancing the number of shifts/hours of deployment of mechanical sweeping and water sprinkling, ensuring daily water sprinkling along with dust suppressants, preferably before peak traffic hours, especially at pollution hotspots and heavy traffic corridors, and ensuring proper disposal of the collected dust at designated sites/landfills.
Commission for Air Quality Management has modified some measures in Stage III. Earlier, there were restrictions on the entry of Delhi-registered diesel operated medium goods vehicles (MGVs) and diesel-operated LCVs (goods carriers), registered outside Delhi and BSIII or below. However, the revised GRAP makes it permissible only for vehicles that have the BS IV or above emission certification to enter the city besides those carrying essential commodities or providing essential services.
“The revised schedule under Stage II shall immediately come into force,” said CAQM in its order. Under Stage III, central govt may also take a decision on staggering the timings of central govt offices in Delhi-NCR. Besides, state govts in NCR and Delhi are to mandatorily conduct classes in schools for children up to class V in a hybrid mode, i.e., in physical and online mode when the latter is feasible in Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar.
In Stage IV,Commission for Air Quality Management has made it compulsory for state govts in Delhi-NCR to mandatorily conduct classes for children even for higher classes, that is, in classes VI-IX and XI in hybrid in Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar.
