The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on October 21, 2024, issued a circular regarding the implementation of Actions under Stage II ('Very Poor' Air Quality) of the revised Graded Response Action Plan in Delhi-NCR.
Forecasts from IMD/IITM also indicate a likelihood of the AQI of Delhi to particularly remain in the "VERY POOR" category (DELHI AQI-301-400) in the coming days, owing to unfavourable meteorological & climatic conditions and calm winds.
Therefore, to prevent further deterioration of the air quality, the Sub-Committee decided that ALL actions as envisaged under Stage II of the GRAP -'Very Poor Air Quality (DELHI AQI ranging between 301-400) be implemented in right earnest by all the agencies concerned in the NCR, in addition to the Stage-I actions already in force, from 8:00 A.M. of October 22, 2024, in the National Capital Region (NCR).
These include:
• Carry out mechanical/ vacuum sweeping and water sprinkling of the identified roads on a daily basis.
• Ensure water sprinkling along with use of dust suppressants (at least every alternate day, during non-peak hours) on roads to arrest road dust especially at hotspots, heavy traffic corridors, vulnerable areas and proper disposal of dust collected in designated sites/landfills.
• Intensify inspections for strict enforcement of dust control measures at C&D sites.
• Ensure focussed and targeted action for abatement of air pollution in all identified hotspots in NCR. Intensify remedial measures for the predominant sector(s) contributing to adverse air quality in each of such hotspots.
• Ensure uninterrupted power supply to discourage use of alternate power Generating sets/ equipment (DG sets etc.).
• Strictly implement the Schedule for regulated operations of DG sets across all sectors in the NCR including Industrial, Commercial, Residential etc. in accordance with Direction No. 76 dated September 29, 2023.
• Synchronize traffic movements and deploy adequate personnel at intersections/traffic congestion points for a smooth flow of traffic.
• Alert in newspapers / TV/radio to advise people about air pollution levels and Do's and Don'ts for minimizing polluting activities.
• Enhance vehicle parking fees to discourage private transport.
• Augment CNG/ electric bus and metro services by inducting additional fleet and increasing the frequency of service.
• Resident Welfare Associations to necessarily provide electric heaters to security staff to avoid open Bio-Mass/ MSW burning during winters.
[Notification No. 120017/27/GRAP/2021/CAQM-1066 DT]
