Daily News Analysis » Graded Response Action Plan(GRAP)

Graded Response Action Plan(GRAP)

This article will cover detailed information about Graded Response Action Plan(GRAP).

Why in the News?

According to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to deal with air pollution will come into force with effect from October 1, 2022.

Key Points:

About Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

  • Approved by the Supreme Court in 2016, the GRAP was formulated as an emergency measure to tackle air pollution.
  • It was notified by the Union Environment Ministry in 2017 to fight air pollution, based on the SC directions.
  • The plan is incremental in nature — therefore, when the air quality moves from ‘Poor’ to ‘Very Poor’, the measures listed under both sections have to be followed.
  • As such, the plan does not include action by various state governments to be taken throughout the year to tackle industrial, vehicular and combustion emissions. 
  • The biggest success of GRAP has been in fixing accountability and deadlines.
    • For each action to be taken under a particular air quality category, executing agencies are clearly marked.

Image Source: The Hindu

What’s different in this GRAP?

  • Unlike the old plan, which was invoked when particulate matter concentrations reached a certain threshold.

  •  The revised GRAP will be pre-emtive — it will come into play three days in advance of air quality reaching a certain level based on forecasts.

ACTIONS UNDER Revised GRAP

  • ‘Severe’ Category
    • State governments in the NCR and the Delhi government may impose restrictions on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers.
  • ‘Severe +’ Category
    • There will be a ban on plying Delhi registered diesel operated “medium goods vehicles” and “heavy goods vehicles” in Delhi.
    • NCR governments are to decide on allowing “public, municipal and private offices” to work on 50% strength and the rest to work from home.

News Source: The Indian Express