These measures encompass a comprehensive prohibition on the utilization of coal within roadside eateries, hotels, and restaurants.
During a meeting, the sub-committee of the central government responsible for the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) acknowledged a recent, abrupt decline in air quality parameters within the region over the past 24 hours. This decline has resulted in Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 212, placing it in the ‘poor’ category.
The Commission on Air Quality Management has issued a statement emphasizing the immediate need to activate Stage-I of GRAP across the entire National Capital Region (NCR). This action is deemed essential to proactively address and prevent any further degradation of air quality within the region.
GRAP, which comprises a series of anti-air pollution measures implemented in the Delhi-NCR region during the winter season, categorizes these actions into four distinct stages. These stages are as follows:
Stage I – ‘Poor’ (AQI 201-300)
Stage II – ‘Very Poor’ (AQI 301-400)
Stage III – ‘Severe’ (AQI 401-450)
Stage IV – ‘Severe Plus’ (AQI >450)
These categories serve as guidelines for implementing appropriate measures based on the prevailing Air Quality Index (AQI) in the region.
Under Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), authorities are also mandated to initiate penal and legal actions against industrial units that are contributing to pollution.
This includes taking measures to address and penalize industrial sources that are negatively impacting air quality in the region.
With agency inputs
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