Post: Post Date – 12:00 AM, Monday – October 31st 22
Construction work at Pragati Maidan was halted on Sunday after New Delhi implemented Phase 3 of GRAP to control air pollution. (Photo: Qamar Sibtain/IANS)
New Delhi: The Delhi government on Sunday banned construction and demolition activities under GRAP amid growing air pollution in the capital.
The subcommittee acting under the NCR and the Adjacent Area Air Quality Management Council’s (CAQM) Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has convened an emergency meeting Saturday to address deteriorating air quality and recommend all actions as per GRAP. Scenario for Phase 3 – “Severe” air quality in the National Capital Region.
Environment Minister Gopal Rai said, “Delhi has banned construction and demolition activities due to increased pollution in the city. 586 teams have been set up to oversee the ban on construction and demolition. In view of the pollution, watering has been increased. 521 sprinklers have been deployed. , 233 anti-smog guns and 150 mobile anti-smog guns to tackle pollution in Delhi.”
Rai assured that the third phase of the GRAP restrictions will be implemented in Delhi as directed by the CAQM.
“The CAQM system announced earlier that this winter, the GRAP system will be set three days earlier based on the air quality index (AQI) at that time. Currently, based on the information we have from experts, after November 1, wind speeds are likely to be 4- Within 8km/h, the direction is likely to turn northwest and based on available information, we are told the AQI level could be over 400, in the ‘severe’ category.
“Today in Delhi, we held a meeting with all stakeholders, especially those in the construction business – PWD, CPWD, MCD, DDA, railways and all agencies working on construction sites and informed them about construction Ban and demolition work,” he said.
“As per the order of CAQM, we will enforce all the regulations in Delhi. This year, we are also working to ensure better enforcement of the order. In previous years, we have noticed that despite the ban, there are still some sites that are still working on it in,” Rai said.
