CAQM (“Commission for Air Quality and Management”) has issued an Order to implement Actions under Stage IV (‘Severe+’ Air Quality) of the revised Graded Response Action Plan (“GRAP”), considering the current ‘Air Quality’ in Delhi-NCR in addition to Stage I, Stage II and Stage III of the GRAP.
Key Action Points in GRAP IV:
1. NCR State Governments / GNCTD to take a decision on allowing private offices to be allowed to work on 50% strength and rest to work from home.
2. Restriction on allowing Light Commercial Vehicles registered outside Delhi, other than EVs/CNG/BS-VI diesel, to enter Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities/providing essential services. In furtherance to this, NCT, Delhi has issued a Circular stating the following restrictions on vehicular movement:
i. No Entry for truck traffic into Delhi (Except for trucks carrying essential commodities/providing essential services and all LNG/CNG/ Electric Trucks).
ii. Prohibition on plying registered diesel operated Medium Goods Vehicles (MGVs) and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) in Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities/providing essential services.
[Note: The above Circular shall not be applicable on vehicles carrying essential commodities i.e., raw vegetables, fruits, grains, milks, eggs, ice that is to be used as food items, and tankers carrying petroleum product.]
3. Prohibition on Construction and Demolition activities also in linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines, etc.
4. State Governments may consider additional emergency measures like closure of non-emergency commercial activities, colleges / educational institutions and allowing running of vehicles on odd-even basis of registration numbers, etc.
Key Action Points in GRAP III:
1. NCR State Govts./GNCTD to impose strict restrictions on plying of BS III, Petrol and BS IV Diesel Light Motor Vehicle (LMVs) (4 wheelers) in Delhi and in the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad., Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar. The Government of NCT, Delhi has issued a Circular re-instating the above restriction, with an exception on vehicles deployed for Emergency Services, Police vehicles and Govt. vehicles used for Enforcement. If any, BS III, Petrol and BS IV Diesel LMVs (4 wheelers) is found plying on roads, the same will be prosecuted under Section 194(1) of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, which provides a fine of Rs. 20,000/-.
2. Strict ban on Construction and Demolition activities in the entire NCR, except for the following categories of projects:
i. Hospitals/ health care facilities;
ii. Linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, over bridges, power transmission/distribution, pipelines etc.;
iii. Sanitation projects like sewage treatment plants and water supply projects etc.;
[Note: The above exemptions shall be further subject to strict compliance of the Construction & Demolition Waste Management Rules, dust prevention/ control norms including compliance with the directions of the commission issued from time to time in this regard.]
3. Other than the projects exempted under (1) above, dust generating/ air pollution causing Construction & Demolition activities to be strictly banned during this period, and shall include:
a. Earthwork for excavation and filling including boring & drilling works.
b. All structural construction works including fabrication and welding operations.
c. Demolition works along with loading & unloading of construction materials anywhere within or outside the project sites.
d. Transfer of raw materials either manually or through conveyor belts, including fly ash.
e. Movement of vehicles on unpaved roads.
f. Operation of batching plant.
g. Laying of sewer line, waterline, drainage work and electric cabling by open trench system.
h. Cutting and fixing of tiles, stones and other flooring materials.
i. Grinding activities, etc.
4. All construction projects in NCR, non-polluting / non-dust generating activities such as plumbing works, electrical works, carpentry related works and interior furnishing / finishing / decoration works (excluding painting, polishing and varnishing works etc) are granted permission to continue.
5. All mining and associated activities in NCR to be closed down.
Source: The Commission for Air Quality and Management in National Capital Region
