Context: 

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region (NCR) has announced a revision in the existing Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

About Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP):

• It is a set of emergency measures implemented in the Delhi-NCR region to prevent further deterioration of air quality once it reaches specific threshold levels. 
• It was approved by the Supreme Court in 2016 and officially notified in 2017. 

Key features of GRAP:

• Incremental Nature: GRAP is designed to be incremental, meaning as air quality worsens, measures from successive stages are triggered.
• Stage 1 (Poor AQI – 201 to 300)
• Stage 2 (Very Poor AQI – 301 to 400)
• Stage 3 (Severe AQI – 401 to 450)
• Stage 4 (Severe + AQI – More than 450)

Revised GRAP to come into force from 1st October 2023, it includes:

• ‘Poor’ Air Quality: Enforcement of the National Green Tribunal or Supreme Court’s order on overaged diesel and petrol vehicles as per existing statutes.
• ‘Very Poor’ Air Quality: Intensification of remedial measures for the predominant sectors contributing to adverse air quality in each of the hotspots.
• ‘Severe’ Air Quality: Strict restrictions on plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) in Delhi and in the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar will be imposed by the NCR State governments.
• Severe +’ Air Quality:  The NCR State governments might decide to discontinue physical classes for classes sixth to ninth and class 11th, and conduct lessons in an online mode.

News Source: PIB

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