Delhi Air Pollution News: In view of air pollution, instructions were given to implement the first phase of GRAP in Delhi-NCR. The first phase includes banning open burning of garbage, limiting the use of diesel generators and banning the use of coal or firewood in eateries.
The Air Pollution Control Panel of the Center has directed to implement it in Delhi and surrounding areas. The air quality in Delhi has been recorded in ‘poor’ category for the second consecutive day. In view of this, it was decided to implement Stage-1 of GRAP.
What was the pollution level in Delhi on October 14?
According to PTI report, Delhiites had to face poor air quality for two consecutive days and the pollution level reached 234 on Monday (October 14). This information was obtained from the data of the Pollution Department. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), after Dussehra, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) reached 224 on Sunday, which falls in the ‘poor’ category.
Incidents of stubble burning in fields increased
The department said that the last time the air quality was recorded in the poor category was 19 days ago (on September 25). Meanwhile, according to satellite images, incidents of field fires have increased in the last week and the number of stubble burning incidents has increased to more than 100. More than 100 incidents of stubble burning in fields were reported between October 10 and October 13 in Punjab.
According to the data, on Monday, 68 incidents of stubble burning in fields were reported in Punjab, 29 in Haryana, 25 in Uttar Pradesh and one such incident in the national capital. After this, instructions were given to implement the first phase of GRAP. Meanwhile, the maximum temperature in the city was recorded at 34.4 degrees Celsius, which is one degree more than the season’s average.
What is GRAP-1?
GRAP means Graded Response Action Plan. Phase I of GRAP is generally implemented when AQI crosses 200. This is seen as a special anti-pollution measure during the cold season. In this, the focus is on controlling pollution through reducing dust at construction sites, waste management, regular road cleaning.
In this, it is mandatory to strictly check polluting vehicles, better traffic management, control pollution caused by industries, power plants and brick kilns.
What other restrictions under GRAP-1?
- Ban on private construction and demolition projects of size 500 square meters or more.
- Action against polluting industrial units and thermal power plants within 300 km radius of Delhi
- Ban on production, storage, and sale of firecrackers
- Strict monitoring on old petrol and diesel vehicles
- Water sprinkling to prevent dust from flying on roads
- Ban on burning garbage in open
- Traffic police deployed at crowded places
- Strict adherence to PUC rules
- minimal power outages
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