CAQM reiterates to Central/State Govts to strictly implement actions under GRAP in view of air quality index.

• Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region (NCR) Delhi and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has reiterated to all implementing agencies of the Central and State Governments to strictly implement actions under Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in view of the air quality GRAP is a set of emergency measures taken to reduce air pollution.
• The Commission has also urged citizens to cooperate in adherence to the Citizen Charter of the respective stages and assist in the effective implementation of the GRAP measures to improve the overall Air Quality in the region. As the air quality has reached “poor” category again, actions under Stage I of the GRAP need to be intensified by all concerned.
• The Commission is reviewing measures undertaken towards abatement of air pollution and also closely monitoring air quality parameters in NCR.
• In a statement, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said, the Commission is reviewing measures undertaken towards abatement of air pollution and also closely monitoring air quality parameters in NCR.  A 24-point action plan as per Stage 1 of GRAP is already in place in the entire National Capital Region from 5th of this month.
• The action plan includes steps such as closure of Construction and Demolition activities of projects with plot sizes equal to or more than 500 square meters which are not registered on the ‘web portal’ of the respective NCR State Government.
• It also includes proper implementation of guidelines on dust mitigation measures and sound environmental management of Construction and Demolition wastes.

What is the Graded Response Action Plan?

• The Graded Response Action Plan was first notified in January 2017 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• The GRAP is a set of emergency measures effected to prevent the deterioration of air quality after it reaches a certain threshold.
• It envisions a four-stage ad-hoc mechanism wherein Stage 1 of GRAP is activated when the AQI is in the ‘poor’ category (201 to 300), while the second, third and fourth stages are activated three days ahead of the AQI reaching the ‘very poor’ category (301 to 400), ‘severe’ category (401 to 450) and ‘severe +’ category (above 450) respectively.