Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to combat air pollution

In order to combat air pollution in Delhi-NCR, the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) along with the Supreme Court came up with the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

Diwali 2016 in Delhi saw some major, even life-threatening air pollution. The air quality was so bad that it was difficult to even breathe. In December 2016, the Supreme Court approved GRAP to tackle air pollution in Delhi and adjoining regions. The main objective was to list down certain crucial measures to tackle air pollution emergencies, giving a clear direction of steps to be taken by central and state authorities. The plan was initially laid down in March 2017 itself to curb urban air pollution.

GRAP: What does “graded response” mean?

A graded response lays down stratified actions that are required to be taken as and when the concentration of pollutants, in this case, particulate matter, reaches a certain level.

At the level of 100 microgrammes per cubic metre of PM 2.5, for example, mechanised sweeping and water-sprinkling along roads has to start. Traffic police personnel have to ensure smooth flow of traffic, and all pollution control measures that are already in place — such as stopping landfill fires, and enforcing Pollution Under Control (PUC) norms and a ban on firecrackers — have to be imposed strictly.

It is then essentially, laying down a straightforward practical plan that can be followed immediately as when the situation demands. (Indian Express)

Key Highlights :

• Comprises measures such as the prohibition on entry of trucks into Delhi.

• Ban on construction activities, shutting down of Badarpur power plant and maximize the generation of power from existing natural gas-based power plants to reduce operation of coal-based power plants in NCR.

• Introduction of odd and even scheme for private vehicles based on license plate numbers and minimize exemptions.

• Closure of brick kilns, hot mix plants and stone crushers.

• Ban on diesel generator sets, garbage burning in landfills and plying of visibly polluting vehicles.

• Task Force to take a decision on any additional steps including shutting of schools.

• Increase frequency of mechanized cleaning of road and sprinkling of water on roads. Identify road stretches with high dust generation.

• Alert in newspapers/TV/radio to advise people with respiratory and cardiac patients to avoid polluted areas and restrict outdoor movement.

• Strict vigilance and no tolerance for visible emissions – stop plying of visibly polluting vehicles by impounding or a heavy fine.

All the measures are clearly segregated under categories of when to implement what. Moderate to poor is when particulate matter (PM) 2.5 and PM10 levels are between 61-90g/m3 (microgram per cubic metre) and 101-250g/m3 respectively.

Very poor is when PM2.5 and PM10 levels are between 121-250g/m3 and 351-430g/m3 respectively; severe is when ambient PM2.5 and PM10 levels are more than 250g/m3 and 430g/m3 respectively.

Very severe or emergency is when PM2.5 or PM10 levels are above 300g/m3 and 500g/m3 respectively and persist for 48 hours or more. (Press Information Bureau & Central Pollution Control Board)

Implementation:

The job of ensuring the implementation of GRAP is EPCA’s. At least 16 agencies will have to work together to implement the various parts of the plan.  Each body has been set a task that it will have to carry out when EPCA asks it to, based on the concentration of pollutants.

Since a huge number of agencies are involved in the process, this in itself is a huge challenge. Some agencies have in fact pointed out some problems in the implementation of the plan.
For example, each time Delhi has to impose odd-even, it has to give out a notice of one week before it. Similarly, if the municipal corporation has to hike the parking rates, it has to hold a meeting before that. Hence, these measures do not remain immediate then.

Today’s scenario:

Post-Diwali, Delhi’s Air Quality Index falls under the “unhealthy” category. The alarming state of the air that we are breathing makes it necessary for the implementation of this plan. On October 18, the Badarpur power plant was shut, diesel generators banned and hundreds of brick kilns were ordered to stop production. The EPCA was prepared to even impose odd-even if the need arises. Measures under the GRAP’s ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories came into effect on the same day and will continue to remain in force till March 15, 2018. (Press Trust of India)

The EPCA was also fully prepared to hike the parking fees up to four times. EPCA said it was working on these measures and added that action will be taken based on the reports released each day by the task force. Other long-term measures include providing electric heaters to society guards in order to prevent burning of firewood and closure of hot mix as well as stone crushers. (TOI)

Additional air and noise levels monitoring stations were set up by The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). A ban was imposed on the sale of firecrackers in Delhi by the SC.

Even though Delhi was once again a gas chamber this Diwali, according to a data from the Central Pollution Control Board  (CPCB), the AQI value this time was better than last year. Last year it was about to touch ‘severe’, while this year it was ‘very poor’.

We are far from breathing clean air, but at least the measures have come into force on time and have worked, even if marginally. GRAP seems to be a good solution if regular amendments are made. It might also help if implemented in other metro-cities tackling with same problems as Delhi-NCR.