GRAP-III reimposed in Delhi days after city recorded its cleanest air since 2015

Due to a sharp deterioration in air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has reimposed the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-III) regulations across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).

The decision was made on the afternoon of Dec 16 due to the capital's very unfavorable weather conditions, which significantly limited the dispersion of air pollution. These conditions included low mixing heights and calm winds.

At 2:30 pm on Dec 16, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) was 366, placing it in the "very poor" category.

Only a week ago, the AQI was 233, which is regarded as "moderate." This is a considerable increase.

Due to a minor improvement in the capital earlier this month, the Supreme Court was able to loosen some of the more stringent GRAP-IV regulations on Dec 5.

However, the most recent decline in air quality has led to the reintroduction of more stringent measures.

All Delhi-NCR schools must now shift to a hybrid curriculum for children in Class V as part of the GRAP-III initiatives.

Depending on the availability of resources like computers and the internet at home, students will have the choice to attend classes in person or virtually.

Additionally, diesel-powered commercial vehicles—particularly those that transport goods—are not allowed to enter the city unless they are necessary for emergency services or other essential purposes.

Furthermore, unless they are delivering necessary services, goods vehicles with engines that do not meet the BS-IV standard are not allowed to operate.

The restoration of these laws will also affect government offices, as they would need to modify their working hours.

The central government is expected to adopt similar measures for its offices in Delhi.

Restoring these rules emphasizes how urgent it is to address Delhi's persistent air pollution problem, which has been a significant concern for a number of years.

The worsening air quality has prompted repeated health warnings from medical professionals and widespread panic among residents, especially since the pollution levels remain particularly high during the winter months.

The Supreme Court has been actively involved in monitoring the air quality situation in Delhi-NCR for several weeks.

Over the past several weeks the Supreme court bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih have held multiple hearings, focusing on issues such as crop burning in nearby states, the impact of firecracker use, and the effectiveness of existing pollution control measures.

"Give a list of other major cities with the problem of air pollution and whether, for those cities, some machinery can be created. We will expand this issue pan India. We should not give a wrong signal that sitting in the Supreme Court we are only dealing with air pollution in Delhi," the bench said.

The court has frequently criticized authorities for failing to adhere to the laws, particularly when GRAP-IV measures were in place and non-essential construction activities continued unchecked.

In addition to dealing with local pollution issues, the court has expressed concerns about the broader impact of air pollution across the country.

In a recent hearing, the Supreme Court asked the government to submit a list of other major cities facing similar pollution challenges.

The court emphasized that air pollution is a “pan-India” issue and suggested creating machinery similar to the CAQM in other states to address the growing pollution concerns.

As the pollution crisis deepens, the Supreme Court has indicated that it plans to expand the scope of its ongoing public interest litigation (PIL) to include other states and cities facing significant air pollution challenges.

"Whatever is banned in NCR is going on in all cities outside it. Where the border of NCR ends, the activities are happening. Crop burning is becoming an issue in other states also," the court commissioner said.

The court acknowledged that while GRAP measures are being followed in Delhi, similar actions are not being implemented in neighboring regions, contributing to the continued worsening of air quality.

In the face of rising pollution levels, the Supreme Court has ordered a comprehensive review of the situation and called for detailed suggestions from experts and environmental advocates.

The Court’s concern underscores the urgent need for coordinated efforts to tackle the widespread air quality crisis that affects millions of Indians, particularly during the winter months.

For now, the reimposition of GRAP-III measures offers a temporary but necessary response to Delhi's deteriorating air quality, as the city continues to grapple with one of its most persistent and dangerous environmental challenges.

The Supreme Court - which hears cases and laments about Delhi's air quality every year - has been just as critical this year, particularly after the post-Diwali deterioration that is, again, an annual and predictable worsening of AQI after many in the city flout the ban on firecrackers.

In an earlier hearing the court bemoaned the bursting of firecrackers and came down heavily on the government and police, saying "no religion encourages any activity which creates pollution".

The Supreme Court has been monitoring the air pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR since Nov 18.

With pollution levels in Delhi touching the "severe" mark last month, the court has said it would issue detailed directions regarding the implementation of the policy formulated by CAQM to curb air pollution.