The Centre on Sunday, January 14, ordered a restriction on non-essential construction work and plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) amid worsening air quality.
The decision came after a significant rise in Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) (458 and 457 at 10 am and 11 am) due to unfavourable climatic conditions and local pollution sources, making the Commission for Air Quality Management, a statutory body responsible for forming air pollution reduction strategies for the region and its implementation of the ban.
Anticipating a prolonged period of severe air quality, the committee decided to implement GRAP Stage-III curbs ('severe' air quality index (AQI) range) immediately to prevent further deterioration.
The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is the Centre's air pollution control plan implemented in the region during winter. It categorises actions into four stages: Stage I – 'Poor' (AQI 201-300); Stage II – 'Very Poor' (AQI 301–400); Stage III – 'Severe' (AQI 401–450); and Stage IV – 'Severe Plus' (AQI >450).
The curbs include a ban on non-essential construction work and the plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers in the region.
Construction work related to national security or defence, projects of national importance, healthcare, railways, metro rail, airports, inter-state bus terminals, highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines, sanitation, and water supply are exempt from the ban.
The Centre had last invoked the GRAP-III measures on December 22 and revoked it after New Year as air pollution conditions in Delhi and surrounding areas improved.
(Edited by : Ajay Vaishnav)
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