GRAP IV Imposed In Delhi: Check Restrictions On Schools, Offices

With air quality in the national capital deteriorating to 'severe', the Commission for Air Quality Management has re-imposed Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan in Delhi-NCR. All construction activity has been halted, and a ban imposed on entry of diesel trucks carrying non-essential goods into the national capital.

GRAP IV also mandates schools to close for physical classes, and public offices to work with 50% strength. 

The restrictions were imposed after Delhi's 24-hour average Air Quality Index breached the 400-mark around 10 p.m. on Dec. 16, up from 379 recorded earlier in the day at 4 p.m. According to SAFAR India, Delhi's AQI stood at 426 at 9:50 a.m. on Tuesday, still remaining in the ‘severe' category.

What Is GRAP Stage IV?

GRAP or Graded Response Action Plan is a set of emergency measures implemented when the air quality breaches a certain threshold. Stage IV implies the strictest measures under the plan.

GRAP is implemented in four stages based on different AQI categories: Stage I when AQI is between 201 and 300, Stage II when AQI is between 301 and 400, Stage III when AQI is between 401 and 450, and Stage IV when AQI is above 450.

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GRAP IV Imposed In Delhi: What's Open, What's Closed?

• Schools to operate under a mandatory hybrid model across Delhi, Gurugram, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad and Faridabad for classes six to nine and class 11. This means classes will be held physically and online for all, except classes 10 and 12.

• Online classes for students up to class five. This was already imposed under GRAP Stage III.

• Public, municipal, and private offices to decide on 50% staff working from office, while the remaining 50% will work from home. 

• States mull additional measures, including closing colleges, non-essential businesses and implementation of odd-even vehicle rules.

• State governments of Delhi and NCR to operate with staggered timings for public and municipal offices. The Centre may consider this for its own offices.

• All construction and demolition activities, including highways, roads, flyovers, power lines, pipelines and other public projects to remain banned. 

• Truck movement into Delhi has been restricted. Trucks carrying essential items and providing essential services, as well as those operating on LNG/CNG/electricity, are allowed.

Pollution levels spiked during the day on Monday in Delhi NCR due to extremely cold winds and weather conditions that hindered the dispersal of pollutants.

GRAP IV was implemented in Delhi for the first time this season in November after a prolonged period of high pollution levels. However, the restrictions were eased in the first week of December after the Supreme Court intervened, ordering a relaxation once the city's AQI showed signs of improvement.

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