The recently gained attention of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has opened topics for discussion about the current air quality condition. The commission remarked on the measures under the “very poor” and “severe” category of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), asserting that these measures would be initiated only when the air quality declines beyond set levels and remains there for at least 48 hours.
Understanding The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)
The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) might seem unfamiliar to many. It was primarily designed in compliance with the Supreme Court’s order in the case of M. C. Mehta vs. Union of India, 2016. This case revolved around the issue of air quality in the National Capital Region of Delhi.
Following this, a Graded Response Action Plan was drawn up, which would be executed under various Air Quality Index (AQI) categories such as Moderate & Poor, Very Poor, and Severe. Later, a new category termed as “Severe+ or Emergency” was incorporated into the plan.
In 2017, the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change gave official notification of the GRAP. Its primary purpose was to institutionalise the measures to be taken if there’s a deterioration in air quality. The plan is specifically incremental in nature: if the air quality moves from ‘Poor’ to ‘Very Poor’, the stipulated measures under both sections should be applied. It primarily aims to prevent PM10 and PM2.5 levels from exceeding the ‘moderate’ national AQI category.
GRAP’s Implementation Over Time
Up until 2020, the task of ordering states to implement the measures under GRAP fell to the Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA). This body was appointed by the Supreme Court but was later dissolved and replaced by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
The CAQM was established in 2020 as a statutory mechanism to oversee numerous efforts to enhance air quality in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and UP, adopting an underlying remedial approach.
Other Measures Adopted for Better Air Quality
Apart from GRAP, certain other measures have also been adopted to improve the air quality. One such measure is the Environment Protection Charge (EPC), introduced in 2016 when the Supreme Court imposed an EPC of 1% on the sale of diesel cars above 2000cc in Delhi and NCR.
In addition to the EPC, an Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) was also levied on trucks entering Delhi. This charge was put into action by the Supreme Court in 2015.
These measures, together with the Graded Response Action Plan, constitute the current framework for addressing and managing air pollution in India’s capital city and its adjoining regions. The constant monitoring and adaptation of these strategies are crucial to maintain a breath-friendly environment.