GRAP kicks in; air quality 'very poor' in several parts

New Delhi: The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) kicked in from Tuesday in Delhi and nearby NCR towns. This triggers a ban on all generator sets, except those used for "essential services", and a host of anti-pollution steps have been issued under the "very poor" category and some under the 'severe' category. "While measures under the 'moderate to poor' category are implemented round the year, the next two categories under GRAP will kick into action from Tuesday as a preventive measure. Mechanised sweeping and sprinkling on roads will also be carried out," an EPCA member said.

"Other measures that will come into effect as smog

levels rise include banning trucks and hand out anti-pollution masks to schoolchildren next week but the date is yet to be decided," said a Delhi government official.

The Supreme Court-appointed pollution watchdog EPCA rolled out the plan as per Supreme Court's direction and it will stay on till mid-March. According to sources, the stringent actions might come into play from next week. The air quality is likely to worsen as predicted by centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

SAFAR in a report stated, "The overall air quality of Delhi is in the higher end of the poor category, as forecasted and touched very poor category on Monday night for a brief period, indicating the peak impact of stubble fire to a maximum of ~8 per cent before midnight."

If air quality deteriorates further and AQI goes beyond 500, (severe-plus), the emergency action plan under GRAP will be rolled out, which proposes a ban on construction activities, odd-even scheme, ban on entry of trucks, and closure of schools.

Last year before Diwali, authorities had anticipated high pollution levels during November 1-10 and announced shutting down of construction activities for these 10 days in Delhi-NCR. Coal and biomass-based industries were shut during November 4-10 and a ban on entry of trucks into Delhi was announced from November 8-10. According to government data, concentrations of particles measuring less than 2.5 microns across — which penetrates the lung and enters the blood — hit 108 micrograms per cubic metre on Tuesday. This was more than four times the recommended World Health Organisation (WHO) safe daily maximum of 25.