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Relevance: GS-III (Environment & Ecology) | Source: The hindu

The Context: Every winter, Delhi-NCR’s air turns toxic due to low wind speeds, cold weather, stubble burning, and city dust. To manage this, authorities just activated Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). However, recent data shows that this emergency playbook is only a temporary fix and fails to solve the root problem.

1. The 4-Step Emergency Alarm (How GRAP Works)

GRAP is a step-by-step emergency response. As the Air Quality Index (AQI) gets worse, the rules get stricter:

  • Stage 1 (Poor | AQI 201–300): Basic checks start. Using diesel generators as a regular power source is strictly banned.
  • Stage 2 (Very Poor | AQI 301–400): Authorities step up targeted enforcement on the ground.
  • Stage 3 (Severe | AQI 401–450): Construction and demolition work is completely stopped. Older, polluting vehicles (BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel cars) are taken off the roads.
  • Stage 4 (Severe+ | AQI above 450): The strictest lockdown. All trucks are banned from entering Delhi unless they run on clean fuels like CNG, LNG, electric, or BS-VI.

2. Who Runs the Show? (EPCA to CAQM)

  • Getting Legal Teeth: When GRAP started in 2017, it was handled by a body called EPCA. Because EPCA lacked real legal backing, state governments often ignored its orders. In 2021, the government replaced it with the CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management).
  • Strict Compliance: CAQM has full legal authority. When it announces a GRAP stage, states (Delhi, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan) must follow it immediately, or their officers can face legal action.

3. Why GRAP Isn’t Enough (And Delhi’s Extra Rules)

  • A Short-Term Fix: A study by CREA shows there has been no steady improvement in Delhi’s winter air over the past four years (average AQI hovered around 280 to 304). GRAP only acts after pollution spikes; it does not eliminate the sources year-round.
  • New Winter Curbs (Nov–Feb): Knowing GRAP’s limits, the Delhi government announced its own winter rules—doubling parking fees (except at Metro stations) to discourage private cars and banning non-Delhi vehicles below BS-VI norms. However, if these state rules clash with GRAP, CAQM’s orders legally take priority.

Value Box: Key Environmental Frameworks
CAQM Act, 2021 Created a statutory body to oversee air quality in NCR. It overrides all state pollution boards in the region and holds powers of search, seizure, and imposing heavy environmental fines.
Bharat Stage (BS) Norms Government standards that regulate tailpipe pollutants from vehicles. India skipped BS-V and jumped directly from BS-IV to BS-VI in 2020, sharply cutting sulphur levels in fuel.
SAFAR An initiative by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) that forecasts city air quality up to 3 days in advance, acting as the early-warning trigger to roll out GRAP stages.

Practice MCQ

Q. Consider the following statements regarding air quality management in the National Capital Region (NCR):

  1. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) replaced the EPCA in 2021 to provide statutory backing and legally binding enforcement of GRAP.
  2. The SAFAR air quality forecasting system is an initiative operated by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under the Ministry of Environment.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only     (b) 2 only     (c) Both 1 and 2     (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (a) 1 only
Hint: Statement 1 is correct; CAQM is a statutory body whose directives are legally binding on state governments. Statement 2 is incorrect because SAFAR was introduced by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), not the CPCB or Environment Ministry.
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