Delhi Air Quality Worsens to Very Poor: CAQM Invokes GRAP Stage II

UPSC Relevance: 

GS Paper III (Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Disaster Management). Why in News: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) as Delhi Air Quality Index (AQI) deteriorated to 324 (Very Poor).  

Background

 • Causes: Deterioration is driven by unfavorable weather (calm winds and mist), transport emissions (accounting for 20.07%), and farm fires across neighboring regions. 

 • Stubble Burning Trends: IITM Decision Support System data shows stubble burning contributed 8.5% to PM2.5 levels, projected to rise to 22%. While farm fires in Punjab, Haryana, and UP are at a three-year seasonal low, active fires in Pakistan Punjab province and Madhya Pradesh added to the pollution load.  

• Supreme Court Directions: The SC allowed bursting certified green crackers in Delhi-NCR only between 6–7 am and 8–10 pm on Diwali (Nov 7–8), while keeping a strict 300-meter ban around hospitals, educational institutions, and silent zones.  

Impact & Measures 

• Impacts: Elevated PM2.5 levels present severe respiratory hazards, reduced visibility, and heightened seasonal smog risks across Delhi-NCR.  

• GRAP-II Mandatory Measures:

o Daily mechanical sweeping and water spraying with dust suppressants on roads.  

o Stricter inspections at construction sites, ban on coal/firewood in eateries, and restriction of diesel generators to essential emergency services.  

o Enhanced public transport: DMRC added 20 additional train trips on weekdays, and parking fees were hiked to discourage private vehicle use.  

o Entry restriction on non-BS-VI vehicles registered outside Delhi until Jan 31 (upheld by High Court). 

 • Solutions: Accelerate stubble management through ex-situ/in-situ machinery, enforce green cracker certification by CSIR-NEERI/PESO, and expand regional air shed management. 

 Essential Definitions

 • Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): An emergency response framework implemented in stages to prevent further deterioration of air quality in Delhi-NCR. 

 • Green Crackers: Environmentally safer fireworks formulated by CSIR-NEERI without harmful chemicals like barium, yielding reduced particulate emissions.  

Legal and Constitutional Framework 

• CAQM Act, 2021: Empowers the Commission for Air Quality Management to coordinate and enforce air quality control across the National Capital Region and adjoining areas.

 • Constitutional Rights: Article 21 guarantees the Right to Clean Environment as part of the Right to Life (M.C. Mehta v. Union of India). 

• Judicial Precedents: Arjun Gopal v. Union of India (2018) established regulations on green crackers balancing environmental health and cultural practices.  

Conclusion Addressing Delhi seasonal air crisis requires strict execution of GRAP-II measures alongside crossborder airshed governance. Combining public transport enhancement, clean fuel adoption, and sustainable agricultural practices is imperative for long-term air quality restoration.