GRAP Stage 4 implemented in Delhi-NCR amid severe air pollution: What does it mean?

GRAP Stage 4 implemented in Delhi-NCR amid severe air pollution: What does it mean?

Subject : Environment

Section: Pollution

Context:

• With the Nation Capital Region’s Air Quality Index (AQI) deteriorating to the ‘severe’ category, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked measures under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect.

Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP):

• GRAP is a set of emergency measures that kick in to prevent further deterioration of air quality once it reaches a certain threshold in the Delhi-NCR region.
• Approved by the Supreme Court in 2016 (M. C. Mehta vs. UOI) and notified in 2017.
• From 2021 onwards, the GRAP is being implemented by the CAQM.
• Till 2020, the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA) used to order States to implement GRAP measures.
• CAQM relies on air quality and meteorological forecasts by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
• GRAP is incremental in nature and thus, when the air quality dips from ‘poor’ to ‘very poor,’ measures listed under both sections have to be followed.
• Stage I (Poor Air Quality – AQI 201-300): Enforce NGT / Hon’ble SC’s order on over-aged diesel/petrol vehicles.
• Stage II (Very Poor- AQI 301-400): Targeted actions to combat air pollution at identified hotspots in the region. Regulated operations of DG (Diesel Generators) have been set across all sectors in the NCR.
• Stage III (‘Severe’- AQI 401-450): Impose strict restrictions on BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers in certain areas and may suspend physical classes in schools for primary grade children up to Class 5.
• Stage IV (Severe Plus- AQI greater than 450): When the AQI exceeds 450, four-wheelers registered outside Delhi, except for electric vehicles, CNG vehicles, and BS-VI diesel vehicles and vehicles carrying essential commodities, will not be allowed to enter the city.
  • The BS or Bharat Stage emission standards are instituted by the government to regulate the output of air pollutants from motor vehicles from internal combustion engine equipment. The BS-VI fuel was estimated to bring around an 80% reduction of sulphur, from 50 parts per million to 10 ppm.

About the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM):

• First formed by an ordinance in October 2020.
• It is a statutory authority.
• It will supersede bodies such as the central and state pollution control boards of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan.
• The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) was dissolved and replaced by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in 2020.

Composition:

• Chairperson: To be chaired by a government official of the rank of Secretary or Chief Secretary.
  • The chairperson will hold the post for three years or until s/he attains the age of 70 years.
• It will have members from several Ministries as well as representatives from the stakeholder States.
• It will have experts from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Civil Society.

Powers and functions:

• It will have the power to issue directions to these state governments on issues pertaining to air pollution.
• It will entertain complaints as it deems necessary for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the air in the NCR and adjoining areas.
• It will also lay down parameters for the control of air pollution.
• It will also be in charge of identifying violators, monitoring factories and industries and any other polluting unit in the region, and will have the power to shut down such units.
• It will also have the power to overrule directives issued by the state governments in the region, that may be in violation of pollution norms.

Source of this article: Indian Express