Air Pollution: Centre Withdraws All GRAP Measures From Delhi-NCR

New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday (February 27) decided to withdraw all measures prescribed under its air pollution control plan for Delhi-NCR in view of sustained improvements in air quality in the region. The Commission for Air Quality Management, a statutory body responsible for forming air pollution reduction strategies for the region and overseeing their implementation, said its subcommittee made this decision during a meeting convened to review the air pollution situation.

It noted that the overall air quality in Delhi has consistently remained below the 200 mark (moderate category) for the past few days, with the 24-hour average air quality index standing at 159 on Tuesday.

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Forecasts for meteorological conditions and air quality index also indicate that Delhi’s overall AQI will remain in the ‘moderate’ category in the coming days.

Considering this positive trend in Delhi’s overall AQI, the GRAP Sub-Committee unanimously decided to withdraw Stage-I of GRAP in the entire NCR with immediate effect, the Commission said.

However, the Commission directed all agencies concerned in the Delhi-NCR region to ensure earnest compliance with its statutory directions, advisories, and orders.

GRAP is the Centre’s air pollution control plan implemented in the region during the winter season.

It categorizes actions into four stages: Stage I – ‘Poor’ (AQI 201-300); Stage II – ‘Very Poor’ (AQI 301-400); Stage III – ‘Severe’ (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV – ‘Severe Plus’ (AQI>450).

Also Read: Can Extreme Temperatures Raise Preterm Birth Risk By 60%? Study Finds Surprising Connection

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which in its Season 10 is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In a world post COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental well-being, self-care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.