Context: The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) recently announced revision plan.

• Revisions are aimed to strengthen measures for ‘Severe’ and ‘Severe+’ air quality stages encountered in NCR during peak winters.

About Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

• GRAP is an emergency response mechanism based on the Air Quality Index (AQI) level of Delhi.

• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) rolled out the graded response action plan (GRAP).

• It was implemented in 2017 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

• It engages multiple stakeholders, implementing agencies, and authorities to respond to deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR.

• Its implementation can suspend all construction works, heavy vehicles entering Delhi's borders, and schools can be shut down.

• It was formulated based on scientific data, stakeholder inputs, and expert recommendations by following a differential approach.

Implementation

• It is implemented by CAQM.

• It contains targeted actions for responsible or implementing agencies when AQI of Delhi goes or is expected to go beyond a threshold.

• This is based on the dynamic model and weather or meteorological forecast provided by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) or Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).

• It shall serve as a tool for abatement of adverse air quality in NCR witnessed during winter months.

Revised Stages

• I- Poor Air Quality (AQI-201 to 300): It enforces National Green Tribunal (NGT) and Supreme Court (SC) orders on overaged fossil fuel-based vehicles.

• II- Very Poor Air Quality (301 to 400): Targeted response in hotspots of high AQI

• III-  Severe Air Quality (401-450): It focuses on fossil fuel-based vehicles and remedial measures for school children.

• IV- Severe + Air Quality (more than 450): Prohibition on heavy polluting vehicles and emergency responses in educational and industrial areas.