Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Measures under ‘stage-1′ of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) will be enforced in the national capital region with immediate effect, according to an order issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
According to the order issued by the CAQM- “It was noted that there has been a sudden dip in air quality parameters in the last 24 hours in the region which led to the AQI for Delhi moving into the “POOR” category. While this is likely to be a localised influence and the forecasts do not predict any further deterioration, in an effort to maintain the AQI in the moderate category, as a precautionary measure, the sub-committee decided that ALL actions as envisaged under Stage I of the GRAP -Poor’ Air Quality (DELHI AQI ranging between 201-300), be implemented in right earnest by all the agencies concerned, with immediate effect in the NCR.”
The CAQM announced an immediate ban on all construction and demolition activity carried over an area of 500 sqm. and above that are not registered on the web portals created by the governments of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The decision was taken as Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) worsened to the “poor” category on Wednesday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. GRAP is a set of emergency measures taken to reduce air pollution.
