As Delhi’s Air quality deteriorates, Stage 4 of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been implemented. What is the purpose of GRAP? How does it help in improving the Air Quality Index?
The 11-point action plan as per Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was kicked in following the rise in pollution levels. Stage I GRAP is already in place.
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a set of emergency measures that kick in to prevent further deterioration of air quality once it reaches a certain threshold. Stage 1 of GRAP is activated when the AQI is in the ‘poor’ category (201 to 300).
The second, third and fourth stages will be activated three days ahead of the AQI reaching the ‘very poor’ category (301 to 400), ‘severe’ category (401 to 450) and ‘severe +’ category (above 450) respectively.
Measures being imposed under the previous categories will continue even when the subsequent category is activated, that is, if measures under Stage-2 are activated, measures under Stage-1 will continue to remain in place.
The GRAP was first notified in January 2017 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. This was based on a plan that was submitted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in November 2016.
According to the notification, the task of implementing the GRAP fell on the now-dissolved Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority for the NCR. From 2021 onwards, the GRAP is being implemented by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) was constituted through the CAQM Act, 2021, which came into force in the same year on April 13.
The air quality monitoring body is tasked with better coordination, research, identification, and resolution of problems surrounding the air quality index and related matters in NCR and adjoining areas. It has the power to take measures, issue directions and entertain complaints to protect and improve the air quality in the region.
The Commission is required to have a full-time chairperson with experience of not less than 15 years in the field of environmental protection and pollution control, or administrative experience of not less than 25 years.
Air Quality Index
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, part of the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, the AQI transforms complex air quality data of various pollutants into a single number (index value), nomenclature, and colour. The pollutants measured include PM 10, PM 2.5, Nitrogen Dioxide, Ozone, Carbon, etc.
There are six categories of AQI, namely ‘Good’ (0-50), ‘Satisfactory’ (51-100), ‘Moderately polluted’ (101-200), ‘Poor’ (201-300), ‘Very Poor’ (301-400), and ‘Severe’ (401-500).
AQI was launched by the central government in 2014 as part of the Swachh Bharat campaign to help simplify the common understanding of pollution. An expert group comprising medical professionals, air quality experts, academia, advocacy groups, and others was constituted and a technical study was awarded to IIT Kanpur. IIT Kanpur and the Expert Group recommended an AQI scheme.
PM10 and PM2.5 pollutants are extremely fine particulate matter (PM) particles, with the digits accompanying them referring to their diameter. So, PM 10 and PM 2.5 are smaller than 10 and 2.5 microns in their diameter, respectively. The finer the particles are, the more difficult it gets to protect oneself from them.
Due to their size, the PM 2.5 particles can easily bypass the nose and throat and can enter the circulatory system. The particles can also lead to chronic diseases such as asthma, heart attack, bronchitis, and other respiratory problems. Byproducts of emissions from factories, vehicular pollution, construction activities, and road dust, such particles are not dispersed and stay suspended in the air that we breathe.
| Pollutants | Source | Impact |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) | Burning of fuel, with sources including emissions from vehicles and power plants. | Short-term exposure to high levels of NO2 can aggravate respiratory diseases. Long-term exposure may contribute to the development of asthma and could increase susceptibility to respiratory infections. |
| Ozone (O3) | Surface ozone pollutant is formed by the reaction of atmospheric pollutants in the presence of sunlight. | Increase in risk of hospital admissions for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) and the number of cardiovascular and respiratory deaths. |
| Sulfur dioxide (SO2) | Burning of fossil fuels by power plants and other industrial facilities. Additional sources are industrial processes and natural sources such as volcanoes. | Harmful to the cardiovascular system and can lead to the development of respiratory illnesses. SO2 can also react with other compounds to form particulate matter. |
| Ammonia (NH3) | Increase in fertilizer use coupled with large contributions from livestock waste have resulted in the world’s highest concentrations of atmospheric ammonia | Excess ammonia is harmful to plants and reduces air and water quality |
| Lead (Pb) | It is a naturally occurring toxic metal found in the Earth’s crust exposed through mining, smelting, manufacturing, and even recycling activities | Children who survive severe lead poisoning may be left with permanent intellectual disability and behavioural disorders. |
| Carbon Monoxide (CO) | It is given off when fuel containing carbon, such as wood, coal, and petrol, is burned | If CO levels are high enough, a person may become unconscious and die. Long-term exposure has been linked with an increased risk of heart disease. |
