First Phase of GRAP to Be Implemented Once AQI Crosses 200 Mark in New Delhi
New Delhi, 19th September 2024: Ahead of the winter season, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has once again made changes to the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), specifically in its second and third phases. This marks the fourth revision of GRAP since its introduction in 2017.
As per the latest updates, the first phase of GRAP will be enforced once the Air Quality Index (AQI) crosses the 201 mark. The second, third, and fourth phases will then be implemented as needed. These phases will be activated based on pollution forecasts provided by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) Pune and the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Unlike previous years, the implementation of GRAP will now rely on three-day or longer forecasts. For instance, if the pollution forecast predicts “very poor” air quality for three consecutive days, the second phase of GRAP will be triggered.
Changes have been made in the second phase as well. Diesel generators with a capacity between 62 kW and 800 kW will now be permitted to operate only in dual-fuel mode or if retrofitted by a certified agency. Previously, this regulation applied to generators with a capacity between 125 kW and 800 kW.
In the third phase, three new restrictions have been introduced. Light diesel vehicles of BS-III standard or below, registered outside Delhi, will no longer be allowed to enter the city. Additionally, interstate buses from the NCR will not be permitted to enter Delhi during GRAP-III. Medium goods vehicles with BS-III diesel engines or lower, registered in Delhi, will also be banned from operating within the city.
