Behind the curve, but Grap 3 finally in place

After two suffocating days of "severe" air quality and more than two weeks of persistently "very poor" air, members of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) finally initiated Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) across the National Capital Region (NCR) on Thursday.

- Jasjeev Gandhiok

The decision comes as residents grapple with dangerously polluted air, with health experts and citizens decrying the delayed enforcement of stricter anti-pollution measures.

Stage 3 of Grap, which comes into effect at 8am on Friday, imposes 11 new restrictions targeting two primary sources of urban pollution: emissions from older vehicles, as well as dust generation from construction and demolition activities (C&D).

CAQM's subcommittee, responsible for activating Grap, convened to implement measures only after Delhi's air quality remained in the "severe" range for 48 hours and amid growing public frustration. State environment minister Gopal Rai late on Thursday called a meeting to discuss Grap-3 provisions.

Grap-3 also offers the choice for NCR governments to consider suspending in-person classes for children in primary school and taking them online instead.