Delhi-NCR moves to GRAP Stage II as air quality worsens
The Commission for Air Quality Management has escalated pollution restrictions following a sharp rise in the capital's Air Quality Index.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) implemented Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR on Monday. According to Moneycontrol, the decision follows the deterioration of air quality in the national capital into the 'very poor' category.
The CAQM noted that Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed from 117 on October 31 to 261 on November 1, reaching 324 on Monday. The commission attributed this decline to unfavourable meteorological conditions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) have predicted that the AQI will remain in the 'very poor' category in the coming days.
Under the Stage II measures, authorities must increase efforts to control dust, promote public transport, and raise parking fees. These rules follow vehicle restrictions introduced on November 1, which bar petrol and diesel vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not meet BS-VI emission standards. Electric and CNG vehicles, along with BS-VI-compliant vehicles, are exempt.
On the first day of the Winter Action Plan, Delhi authorities collected Rs 68.4 lakh in penalties and environmental compensation. Official data showed nearly 15,000 vehicles were checked, resulting in 1,539 vehicles being turned back at borders and 566 challans issued for Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) violations.
The enforcement is being conducted by the Delhi Environment and Transport Departments and the traffic police. The penalties included Rs 56.6 lakh for PUCC violations, Rs 2 lakh for border entry breaches, and Rs 9.8 lakh for construction and demolition-related environmental compensation.