NEW DELHI: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Wednesday imposed Stage-IV restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR after pollution levels rose to the ‘severe’ category.
The CAQM in its order said that the AQI of Delhi rose sharply to 386 on Wednesday and is expected to breach the 400 mark as predicted by IMD, primarily due to to dense foggy conditions and low temperatures.
The CAQM During winters impose restrictions under GRAP in Delhi-NCR, which categorizes air quality into four stages – Stage 1 (Poor, AQI 201-300), Stage 2 (Very Poor, AQI 301-400), Stage 3 (Severe, AQI 401-450), and Stage 4 (Severe Plus, AQI above 450).
Key restrictions under GRAP-4:
- Ban on construction & demolition activities ( Exception- Projects of public importance, including railways, airports, bus terminals, defence and hospitals).
- Close down operations of stone crushers in entire NCR.
- Close down all mining and associated activities.
- Ban on BS-lll petrol and BS-lV diesel light motor vehicles in Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Noida. (Exception – Persons with disabilities can ply BS-petrol/ BS-IV diesel LMVs, provided these are specifically adopted for them and run only for their use)
- Restriction on plying of Delhi registered diesel-operated medium goods vehicles of BS-IV standards or below, in Delhi. (except those carrying essential commodities or providing essential services)
- Restriction on BS-IV and below diesel-operated LCVs (goods carriers), registered outside Delhi, from entering Delhi. (except those carrying essential commodities or providing essential services)
- Stop entry of truck traffic into Delhi (except for trucks carrying essential commodities/providing essential services.
- All LNG/CNG/electric/ BS-VI diesel trucks shall, however, be permitted to enter Delhi
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