Delhi Air Pollution Worsens: GRAP-2 Fails, AQI Crosses 500

04 Nov Delhi Air Pollution Worsens: GRAP-2 Fails, AQI Crosses 500

✎ The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a crucial, multi-stage emergency framework designed to mitigate severe air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region through coordinated, progressively stringent measures based on the Air Quality…

Subject Relevance — Where This Topic Fits

• GS Paper I — Urbanisation, Environmental Geography  |  GS Paper II — Government Policies and Interventions, Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health  |  GS Paper III — Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Disaster Management
• Prelims: Air Quality Index (AQI), Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Particulate Matter (PM2.5, PM10), Anti-smog guns, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
• Essay: Environmental Degradation and Sustainable Development, Urbanisation Challenges and Solutions in India

Quick Revision: The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a crucial, multi-stage emergency framework designed to mitigate severe air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region through coordinated, progressively stringent measures based on the Air Quality Index (AQI).

Why is this in the news?

Despite the implementation of Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has remained in the ‘Very Poor’ and ‘Severe’ categories, with specific monitoring stations recording AQI values exceeding 500. This persistent high pollution level has prompted additional measures, including a 50% work-from-home mandate and a ban on dust-generating construction activities in Gurugram, highlighting the ongoing challenge of air quality management in the National Capital Region.

Background

• Air pollution in Delhi-NCR is a recurring annual phenomenon, particularly during the post-monsoon and winter months, attributed to a combination of meteorological factors, vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, biomass burning (including stubble burning), and construction dust.
• The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a tool for effectively communicating air quality status to the public. It transforms complex air quality data into a single number and colour, indicating potential health effects.
• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is a statutory organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), responsible for monitoring air quality and providing technical services to the Ministry.
• The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a set of emergency measures implemented to combat air pollution in Delhi-NCR, based on the severity of the AQI. It was notified by the MoEFCC in 2017.
• The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021, established a statutory body to coordinate activities, research, and resolve issues concerning air quality management in the NCR.
• Health impacts of severe air pollution include respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and other chronic health conditions, posing a significant public health challenge.

What is the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)?

• GRAP is an emergency action plan implemented in the Delhi-NCR region to address escalating air pollution levels.
• It categorises air quality into four stages: Poor, Very Poor, Severe, and Severe+ (Emergency), with specific, progressively stringent measures for each stage.
• The measures under GRAP are implemented by various agencies, including state pollution control boards, municipal corporations, and traffic police, under the overall supervision of the CAQM.
• Stage I (Poor) involves actions like stopping the use of diesel generator sets, ensuring proper waste management, and increasing public transport frequency.
• Stage II (Very Poor) includes banning coal/firewood use in hotels/restaurants, increasing parking fees, and intensifying mechanised sweeping of roads.
• Stage III (Severe) mandates a ban on construction and demolition activities (excluding essential projects), brick kilns, and hot mix plants, and restricts the use of private vehicles.
• Stage IV (Severe+) involves a complete ban on construction and demolition activities, entry of trucks into Delhi (excluding essential services), and a possible odd-even scheme for vehicles, along with closure of schools and non-essential offices.

Key Features

Why it Matters

Environmental Significance

• Persistent ‘Very Poor’ to ‘Severe’ air quality indicates a critical environmental degradation in urban centres, necessitating urgent and comprehensive remedial actions.
• The ineffectiveness of GRAP-2 measures highlights the complex and multi-faceted nature of air pollution, requiring a re-evaluation of current strategies and their implementation.
• The phenomenon underscores the urgent need for sustainable urban planning and development practices that integrate environmental protection as a core component.

Public Health Significance

• Elevated AQI levels, particularly in the ‘Severe’ category, pose significant health risks, including respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular problems, and other chronic conditions, impacting public well-being.
• Vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions, are disproportionately affected, leading to increased morbidity and mortality.
• The health burden translates into substantial economic costs through healthcare expenditures and lost productivity, affecting national development.

Governance and Policy Significance

• The situation reflects challenges in inter-state coordination and enforcement of environmental regulations, as pollution sources often transcend administrative boundaries.
• It necessitates a robust policy framework that addresses both immediate pollution spikes and long-term systemic causes, including industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, and agricultural practices.
• The incident underscores the importance of data-driven policy-making, relying on accurate monitoring and scientific predictions from bodies like IITM to inform effective interventions.

Challenges

1. Effectiveness of Current Measures

• Despite the implementation of GRAP-2, air quality continued to deteriorate, indicating potential limitations in the scope, stringency, or enforcement of existing anti-pollution measures.
• The sustained high pollution levels suggest that current interventions may not be adequately addressing the primary sources or the cumulative impact of pollutants.

UPSC Link: Environmental Pollution & Degradation

2. Multi-sectoral Pollution Sources

• Air pollution in urban areas is a result of diverse sources, including vehicular emissions, industrial activities, construction dust, biomass burning, and meteorological factors, making comprehensive control challenging.
• Addressing these varied sources requires coordinated efforts across multiple sectors and administrative jurisdictions, which is often difficult to achieve.

UPSC Link: Conservation, Environmental Pollution

3. Public Compliance and Awareness

• The success of measures like work-from-home mandates and construction bans depends heavily on public and industry compliance, which can be inconsistent.
• A lack of widespread public awareness regarding the severity of air pollution and individual contributions can hinder collective action and behavioural changes.

UPSC Link: Environmental Impact Assessment

4. Technological and Infrastructural Gaps

• While anti-smog guns are deployed, their efficacy in large-scale air purification across vast urban landscapes needs continuous evaluation and enhancement.
• The availability and adoption of cleaner technologies in industries, transportation, and construction sectors remain a challenge, requiring significant investment and policy incentives.

UPSC Link: Science and Technology- Developments

5. Meteorological Influences

• Adverse meteorological conditions, such as low wind speeds and temperature inversions, can trap pollutants close to the ground, exacerbating air quality issues.
• These natural factors limit the effectiveness of human interventions and necessitate more proactive and stringent measures during unfavourable weather periods.

UPSC Link: Geographical Phenomena

Challenges — UPSC Perspective

Way Forward

• Strengthen the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) by enhancing its stringency, expanding its scope to include more pollution sources, and ensuring timely and rigorous implementation.
• Promote a comprehensive regional approach to air pollution management, fostering better coordination among states in the National Capital Region (NCR) to address transboundary pollution sources.
• Accelerate the transition to cleaner energy sources and technologies across industrial, transport, and domestic sectors, including electric vehicles and renewable energy.
• Implement stringent dust control measures at construction and demolition sites, including mandatory use of anti-smog guns, green netting, and regular water sprinkling.
• Invest in advanced air quality monitoring infrastructure and forecasting systems to provide more accurate, real-time data for informed policy decisions and public alerts.
• Launch sustained public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the causes and impacts of air pollution, promoting behavioural changes and encouraging participation in mitigation efforts.
• Incentivize research and development into innovative, cost-effective technologies for air pollution control, including advanced filtration systems and sustainable waste management solutions.
• Ensure strict enforcement of environmental regulations and impose deterrent penalties for non-compliance across all sectors contributing to air pollution.

UPSC Value Addition

Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the Air Quality Index (AQI) in India:
1. An AQI reading between 301 and 400 is categorised as ‘Very Poor’.
2. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is responsible for categorising AQI levels.
3. The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is implemented based on the severity of AQI levels.
How many of the above statements are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Answer: All three — Statement 1 is correct: An AQI of 301-400 is indeed ‘Very Poor’. Statement 2 is correct: CPCB categorises AQI levels. Statement 3 is correct: GRAP measures are progressively implemented as AQI worsens.

Q2. Which of the following bodies is primarily responsible for coordinating activities to improve air quality in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas?

1. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
2. National Green Tribunal (NGT)
3. Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)
4. Ministry of Environment, Forest and and Climate Change (MoEFCC)

Answer: Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) — The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas was established by an Act of Parliament to coordinate activities and enforce measures for air quality improvement in the NCR.

Mains Practice Question

✍ Despite the implementation of measures like the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), air quality in urban centres, particularly the National Capital Region, continues to deteriorate. Critically examine the efficacy of current policy interventions in addressing the multifaceted challenge of air pollution. (15 Marks)

Approach: MODEL-ANSWER SKELETON:
1. **Introduction:** Briefly state the persistent problem of air pollution in NCR despite existing frameworks like GRAP, referencing recent AQI levels.
2. **Efficacy of Current Policy Interventions (GRAP as a primary example):**
* **Strengths:** Discuss GRAP’s structured, graded approach, its focus on emergency measures (e.g., construction bans, odd-even scheme, anti-smog guns), and its role in raising awareness.
* **Limitations/Challenges:**
* **Implementation Gaps:** Issues with enforcement, inter-state coordination (stubble burning, vehicular emissions from adjoining states).
* **Seasonal Nature:** Reactive rather than proactive; focus on winter pollution without adequately addressing year-round sources.
* **Source Attribution:** Difficulty in precisely attributing pollution sources and implementing targeted solutions (vehicular, industrial, construction dust, biomass burning, domestic).
* **Economic Impact:** Curbs on economic activities (construction, industries) and their socio-economic consequences.
* **Technological Limitations:** Efficacy of measures like anti-smog guns, limitations of work-from-home mandates.
3. **Multifaceted Nature of Air Pollution:** Explain that air pollution is not a singular problem but a complex interplay of:
* **Geographical Factors:** Landlocked nature, wind patterns, temperature inversions.
* **Anthropogenic Sources:** Vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, construction dust, stubble burning, domestic biomass burning, waste incineration.
* **Governance Challenges:** Lack of integrated urban planning, inadequate public transport infrastructure, insufficient green cover.
4. **Way Forward/Recommendations:** Suggest comprehensive, long-term strategies:
* Strengthening CAQM’s role and enforcement powers.
* Promoting cleaner fuels and electric vehicles.
* Investing in public transport and non-motorised transport.
* Implementing stricter industrial emission standards and monitoring.
* Sustainable agricultural practices to reduce stubble burning.
* Green infrastructure development and urban forestry.
* Public awareness and behavioural change campaigns.
* Leveraging technology for real-time monitoring and predictive modelling.
5. **Conclusion:** Reiterate the need for a sustained, multi-stakeholder, and technologically informed approach beyond emergency measures to achieve lasting improvements in air quality.

Source: The Indian Express

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