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Signalling the annual return of the capital’s pollution season, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the Centre’s anti-pollution panel, has enforced Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).

 

The CAQM announced the decision on Tuesday after Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 211 — a level classified as ‘Poor’. This marks the first formal activation of GRAP measures for the 2025–26 winter season.

 

The Sub-Committee on GRAP, in a review meeting, assessed real-time data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) along with forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).

 

“The AQI has entered the ‘Poor’ threshold, and projections indicate sustained levels in this range over the coming days due to stagnant weather conditions,” the committee noted in its order.

 

Under Stage I (‘Poor’ Air Quality, AQI 201–300), a series of enforcement measures will now be implemented by district administrations, pollution control boards, and municipal bodies across Delhi and NCR districts in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Punjab.

 

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The key measures under GRAP Stage I focus on construction dust control, waste management, and emission reduction:

 

• Construction Dust Control: A strict ban has been imposed on labour-intensive construction activities that do not follow dust mitigation norms. Water sprinkling at all project sites has been made mandatory.

• Industrial and Vehicular Curbs: Inspections of polluting industries will be intensified, and compliance with CNG norms for public transport will be reinforced.

• Waste Management: Immediate prohibition of garbage-burning activities has been ordered, alongside tighter protocols for the handling of bio-medical waste.

• Road and Power Sector: Black carbon emission audits will be conducted for heavy vehicles, while power plants within 10 km of Delhi are required to operate solely on piped natural gas.

The CAQM order emphasises strict monitoring, directing all enforcement agencies to “intensify measures” and maintain a “strict vigil” to prevent air quality from deteriorating further into the ‘Very Poor’ or ‘Severe’ categories.

 

Citizens have been urged to adhere to the GRAP Stage I Citizen Charter, which encourages voluntary actions such as using public transport, avoiding strenuous outdoor activities during peak pollution hours, and reporting violations via CAQM’s helpline (1800-180-1708).

 

Environmental experts have welcomed the intervention but warned that deeper systemic reforms are crucial. “GRAP is a band-aid; without tackling stubble burning and interstate coordination head-on, we are just postponing the inevitable smog blanket,” said Dr Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

 

Data from IITM’s high-resolution forecasting system, which maintains over 80 per cent accuracy in predicting ‘Very Poor’ air quality episodes, supports these concerns. Calm winds and clear skies forecast for the next week could trap pollutants, potentially pushing Delhi’s AQI above 250 by the end of the month.

 

While September has been comparatively cleaner this year, historical trends indicate that Delhi’s air quality typically worsens sharply after Diwali, reinforcing the urgency for sustained preventive measures.