GRAP measures ineffective, ban on diesel light vehicles 'little too late', environmentalists say
New Delhi: Environmentalists called measures under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan "ineffective" and said it was a "little too late" to ban diesel light motor vehicles in Delhi-NCR as the final stage of a central panel's anti-pollution action came into effect.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Thursday decided to implement measures under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) — a set of anti-pollution measures followed in the national capital and its vicinity, according to the severity of the situation — in view of the worsening air quality in Delhi-NCR.
The CAQM banned the plying of four-wheeled diesel light motor vehicles in Delhi and adjoining NCR districts and the entry of trucks into the national capital as part of the final stage of GRAP. However, BS-VI vehicles and those used for essential and emergency services are exempted.
Delhi's overall air quality index (AQI) at 445 at 3 pm. Almost all air quality monitoring stations reported a 'severe' reading while 16 logged an AQI of more than 450. An AQI of above 400 is considered 'severe', which can affect healthy people and seriously impact those with existing illnesses.
The anti-pollution measures under GRAP are classified under four different stages of adverse air quality in Delhi: 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).
Bharati Chaturvedi, founder and director of Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group, claimed the entire GRAP initiative was problematic and that the measures should have been in place throughout the year.
"The action plan is problematic. It worked well as a concept when we had no access to data. But these measures should be in place throughout the year in order to bring down AQI levels to 100 or below," Chaturvedi told PTI.
She further said construction workers were not being compensated enough and schools' vacation schedules should have been reworked earlier.
"Construction workers in Delhi are not getting enough compensation. Most of them earn Rs 18,000 a month whereas the Delhi government is offering only Rs 5,000 a month.
The CAQM had on Saturday directed authorities to impose a ban on construction and demolition activities in Delhi-NCR, barring essential projects, under the third stage of GRAP.
Chaturvedi further said, "GRAP was implemented earlier too and shutting down schools under the action plan is nothing new. This happens every year, so why didn't the Kejriwal government re-work their vacation
schedules?"
