On October 20, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) instructed authorities to submit a report detailing the actions taken to control air pollution in Delhi. This is in line with the Graded Response Action Plan, which aims to maintain air quality within acceptable levels and protect public health, especially with the approaching winter season.
Notices were issued to several key authorities, including the Chief Secretary of Delhi, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Central Pollution Control Committee, and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The NGT took suo motu cognizance based on newspaper reports highlighting the worsening air quality in Delhi-NCR and its subsequent health impacts.
The court also noted a report stating that a smog tower worth Rs 22.9 crore at Connaught Place has been non-functional for the past seven months. According to experts quoted in The Times of India report dated October 20, 2023, the installation of such an expensive smog tower was a futile expenditure as it did not contribute to improving the city’s air quality.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has requested additional time to gather information and submit an action-taken report.
What is GRAP?
The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a strategy developed to tackle air pollution in the Delhi-NCR area. It serves as an emergency response system that is activated when the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaches “poor” levels.
The implementation of GRAP is overseen by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the NCR and adjoining regions. The CAQM works in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
GRAP was revised this year by the CAQM due to the anticipated deterioration of air quality in the NCR during the winter months, as stated in a MoEFCC release at the end of July. GRAP is divided into four stages, each with specific actions that need to be taken by the relevant authorities and agencies. These stages are as follows:
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