Graded Response Action Plan | 31 Jul 2023

Source: PIB

Why in News?

Recently, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has announced a revision in the existing Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to combat air pollution in the region.

• The revised GRAP contains targeted actions that need to be taken by the agencies responsible/ implementing agencies when AQI (Air Quality Index) of Delhi goes beyond a certain threshold.
• Earlier, research was published in the journal Nature titled- “Machine learning-based country-level annual air pollutants exploration using Sentinel-5P and Google Earth Engine”, showing that, during 2018-2021, India witnessed the maximum levels of human-induced Air Pollution.

What is a Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)?

• About:
  • GRAP is a set of emergency measures that kick in to prevent further deterioration of air quality once it reaches a certain threshold in the Delhi-NCR region.
  • It was approved by the Supreme Court in 2016 after the Supreme Court’s order in the matter of M. C. Mehta vs. Union of India (2016) and notified in 2017.
• Implementation:
  • From 2021 onwards, the GRAP is being implemented by the CAQM.
    • Till 2020, the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA) used to order States to implement GRAP measures.
  • The EPCA was dissolved and replaced by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in 2020.
  • CAQM relies on air quality and meteorological forecasts by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
• Revision:
  • Stage I (Poor Air Quality - AQI 201-300): Enforce NGT / Hon’ble SC’s order on over aged diesel / petrol vehicles.
  • Stage II (Very Poor- AQI 301-400): Targeted actions to combat air pollution at identified hotspots in the region. Regulated operations of DG (Diesel Generators) have been set across all sectors in the NCR.
  • Stage III ('Severe'- AQI 401-450): Impose strict restrictions on BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers in certain areas and may suspend physical classes in schools for primary grade children up to Class 5.
  • Stage IV (Severe Plus- AQI greater than 450): When the AQI exceeds 450, four-wheelers registered outside Delhi, except for electric vehicles, CNG vehicles, and BS-VI diesel vehicles and vehicle carrying essential commodity, will not be allowed to enter the city.