The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has revoked GRAP 3 restrictions in Delhi following an improvement in air quality in the national capital and the adjoining areas.
"The AQI of Delhi, which was recorded as 380 on Thursday, has significantly improved and recorded 236 at 4pm on Friday, exhibiting a trend. Keeping in view the prevailing trend of air quality, the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP decides to revoke all actions as envisaged under Stage-3 of the extant GRAP, with immediate effect, in the entire NCR," a senior official said.
However, authorities maintained that all restrictions under GRAP 1 and 2 will remain in force in NCR until the air quality improves. Following the withdrawal of GRAP 3 norms, inter-state diesel buses that do not meet CNG, electric or BS-VI norms are allowed to enter Delhi. Physical classes can be resumed for students up to class 5, as it were shifted to hybrid mode when the air quality deteriorated.
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According to an official statement, non-essential construction and demolition activities are now allowed to resume across Delhi-NCR. Works such as earthwork, piling, open trenching, welding, painting, plastering, tiling and flooring can also resume, along with the operation of stone crushers, brick kilns and mining activities, subject to compliance with pollution control norms. Transport of construction materials, including cement, sand and fly ash, has also been permitted. BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers are now allowed to operate on Delhi roads.
However, the Commission clarified that construction and demolition project sites that were issued specific closure orders due to violations or non-compliance with statutory directions, rules or guidelines will, under no circumstances, be allowed to resume operations without an explicit order to this effect from the Commission.
