Delhi enters pollution 'red zone': Why have authorities not enforced GRAP 3 yet?

Delhi has plunged into a severe air quality crisis, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) surging above the 400-mark, pushing the city into the hazardous “red zone."

Despite the pervasive smog that has made Delhi the country’s second most polluted city, authorities have resisted activating the next level of emergency action, the stringent Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage 3 restrictions.

On Saturday, the 24-hour average AQI stood at 361, categorising Delhi’s air quality as ‘very poor,’ though figures in several specific hotspots, including Wazirpur (420), Burari (418), and Vivek Vihar (411), exceeded the ‘severe’ threshold.

This air is considered dangerous to all, particularly those with existing respiratory conditions. The adverse conditions are regional, with the surrounding National Capital Region (NCR), including Noida (354) and Ghaziabad (339), also reporting hazardous figures.

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The primary focus of public and regulatory scrutiny is the decision by pollution control bodies, including the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), to withhold the enforcement of GRAP Stage 3.

This action plan’s third stage mandates sweeping, often economically disruptive, restrictions aimed at rapidly reducing pollutant loads. These measures typically include stricter bans on most private construction and demolition activities, further limitations on non-essential vehicle movement, and the closure of certain industrial units operating outside designated fuel standards.

Why isn’t GRAP in action yet?

According to officials, the rationale behind the decision hinges on a comparative analysis with historical data.

They argue that despite the alarming recent spike, the air quality across the early part of this November has remained demonstrably better than the corresponding period in the last year.

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Officials indicate that pollution levels have not yet consistently crossed the precise ‘severe’ threshold required to automatically trigger the third stage of emergency restrictions, meaning the current crisis is seen as short of the criteria for an immediate, full-scale Stage 3 activation.

Instead of resorting to the full suite of Stage 3 measures, officials are crediting timely and coordinated pollution control efforts for preventing a faster deterioration.

These preventative measures, which have been implemented under lower GRAP stages, include intensified dust control operations, comprehensive road cleaning, the mandatory deployment of anti-smog guns at construction sites, and stricter emission checks on both commercial vehicles and industrial facilities.

An official quoted by PTI said that the proactive approach has proven effective: “Out of the last seven days, six have recorded better air quality than the corresponding days last year. This has been possible because of timely and coordinated action taken across departments.” The hope remains that sustained vigilance can avoid the need for Stage 3, which was imposed late last year.

Nonetheless, the majority of Delhiites remain under a severe public health advisory as they continue to breathe hazardous air