Air quality panel tells agencies to strictly implement actions

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the NCR and adjoining areas 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 index of the area.

The commission has also urged the citizens to adhere to the citizen charter of the respective stages and assist in the effective implementation of the GRAP to improve the overall air quality in the region. On 5th October, Delhi’s air quality deteriorated to “poor” quality, though it improved subsequently.  As the air quality has reached the “poor” category again, actions under Stage I of the GRAP need to be intensified by all concerned.

The Sub-Committee of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) is reviewing measures undertaken to abate pollution and is also closely monitoring air quality parameters in NCR as per the forecasts for meteorological conditions and air quality “poor” category index made available by the India Meteorological Department/Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.

At its meeting held on 5 October, this year, the sub-committee decided to invoke all actions as envisaged under Stage I of the GRAP-’Poor’ Air Quality (DELHI AQI 201-300). The Order is still in force.

Stage 1 of GRAP, involves a 24-point action plan. It includes steps such as closure of construction and demolition (C&D) activities of projects with a plot size equal to or more than 500 sq m which have not registered on the “web portal” of the respective NCR and state governments; proper implementation of guidelines on dust mitigation measures and sound environmental management of C&D waste; regular lifting of municipal solid waste (MSW), C&D waste, and hazardous waste from dedicated dump sites; periodic mechanised sweeping and/or water sprinkling on roads; and use of anti-smog guns at C&D sites, among others.