The air in India’s capital has become a health hazard, prompting the activation of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage 3 protocols. With AQI levels surging past dangerous thresholds, the CAQM announced the measures to mitigate the worsening smog blanket over Delhi-NCR.
Real-time data from the Central Pollution Control Board reveals a grim picture: Delhi’s overall AQI stood at 415 by midday, firmly in the severe zone. Hotspots like RK Puram (441), Punjabi Bagh (432), and ITO (425) signal widespread contamination. Particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations far exceed safe limits, posing immediate risks to public health.
GRAP-3 bans all non-essential construction and demolition work indefinitely. Mining activities cease entirely, and stone crushers halt operations. Coal-based power plants and industries face shutdowns unless equipped with emission controls. Diesel generators above 500 KVA capacity are prohibited except in emergencies.
To ease traffic emissions, a 50% cap applies to private vehicles entering Delhi from other states. The Delhi government ramps up DTC bus services and waives parking fees at municipal lots to discourage personal car usage. Speed restrictions on highways aim to cut dust resuspension from roads.
This pollution spike coincides with peak stubble-burning season in Punjab and Haryana, where satellite imagery confirms thousands of farm fires raging daily. Combined with Diwali firecracker residue, biomass burning contributes nearly 30% to Delhi’s PM levels, per IIT Kanpur studies. Local factors like garbage incineration and road dust compound the menace.
Health advisories dominate headlines, with hospitals reporting a surge in asthma attacks and bronchitis cases. ‘People must stay indoors between 8 AM and 5 PM, hydrate frequently, and consult doctors for inhalers,’ warns the Indian Medical Association. Vulnerable groups face the gravest threats from this invisible killer.
GRAP’s tiered framework has proven effective in past winters, buying time for cleaner technologies to scale. Yet critics argue for permanent reforms: subsidized crop residue management machinery, expanded metro networks, and pollution penalties scaled to GDP impact. As inversion layers lock in toxins, Delhi braces for a protracted battle for clean air.
