Key Points:
- Improved Air Quality: The Supreme Court has allowed easing of GRAP-4 restrictions in Delhi due to better air quality.
- Resumption of Activities: Construction, demolition, and truck entry activities, among others, will now be allowed.
- GRAP-2 Restrictions Remain: Use of coal, firewood, and diesel generators (except for emergencies) continues to be restricted.
What Does This Mean for Delhiites?
How is Delhi responding to this air quality improvement? With the Supreme Court directing the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to relax GRAP-4 restrictions, multiple services and activities will now resume in Delhi and nearby regions. The restrictions under GRAP-4 were originally implemented on November 18 due to the severe air quality levels.
Key activities like construction, demolition, and the entry of goods trucks and light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi will restart. However, the court has made it clear that Delhi’s air quality is still far from normal, and precautions under GRAP-2 will remain in place. Restrictions on using coal and firewood in tandoors at hotels and eateries, as well as limitations on diesel generator use, continue to be enforced.
Why Is This Decision Significant?
Delhi’s air pollution has been a persistent challenge, especially during the winter months when AQI levels often skyrocket. The recent decision by the Supreme Court comes as a relief for many businesses and workers affected by the stringent GRAP-4 restrictions. At the same time, it highlights the delicate balance between economic activity and public health concerns.
Daily dust management measures, such as watering roads, will still be required to minimize particulate pollution caused by traffic. Authorities have also been advised to impose stricter measures from GRAP-3 or GRAP-4 if AQI levels worsen.
What’s Next?
While Delhiites can look forward to some normalcy with these eased restrictions, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) will closely monitor air quality levels. Should the AQI cross 350, GRAP-3 restrictions will return, and if it crosses 400, GRAP-4 measures will be reinstated. For now, vigilance and continued efforts to combat pollution remain key to ensuring long-term improvement in Delhi’s air quality.
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