Delhi Implements 'Grap': What Is It?

Delhi has been implementing its Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for the past five years annually every winter. In 2022, this plan was implemented first on October 3, which has been revised recently by the national capital. Owing to the calm and stable atmospheric conditions, the Air Quality Index (AQI) has crossed the 450+ benchmark, that is, it now comes in the ‘severe+’ category. Recognising this, the government has implemented stage IV of GRAP.

But what is GRAP that we hear so often?

Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a series of measures that requires effective coordination between 13 different agencies in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. Mainly those regions which come under the National Capital Region (NCR) region. In 2016, the Supreme Court mandated that Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) to come up with a plan. The result was a plan that institutionalised measures to be taken when air quality goes down. This is what we called ‘GRAP', which us a slew of actions taken only during an emergency and does not include measures taken throughout the year.

There are four stages under this scheme:

· Moderate to poor: The PM is between 101 to 350

Some measures include heavy fine for garbage burning, pollution regulation on brick kilns and industries, ban on firecrackers, and water sprinkling.

· Very poor: PM between 351 to 230.

Some measures include ban on diesel generator sets, enhance parking fee, discourage burning winter fires, encourage public transport

· Severe: PM over 430

Some measures include closing brick kilns, hot mix plants, stone crushers, maximise natural gas usage, encourage public transport, water sprinkling

· Severe+ or Emergency: PM over 500

Some measures include, stopping entry of trucks into Delhi, stopping construction work, introducing odd-even scheme, shutting off schools

Currently, we are at stage four or Severe+ pollution category. There have been some commendable achievements under this scheme, like BS VI fuel compliance in Delhi, the close of the Badarpur thermal plant, ban on pet coke as fuel in Delhi-NCR. The coordination of the 13 authorities has also increased many fold.

What does the latest circular say?

The latest government update is in compliance with Stage IV GRAP guidelines. Some of these include stopping incoming traffic to Delhi, except trucks carrying essential commodities. Ban on plying 4-wheeler diesel LMVs, close down industries in Delhi-NCR that do not have PNG infrastructure. 50 per cent working capacity in government offices, among others.

Further, Secretary General of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), Praveen Khandelwal has urged the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, VK Saxena, to order the closure all government and private schools in Delhi till the level of pollution in Delhi comes to normal. This step is needed to protect the children from any disease caused by pollution. The whole of Delhi is in the red zone.