Pollution restrictions have been imposed across Delhi-NCR under GRAP Stage I, following worsening air quality. These are the season’s first GRAP curbs, targeting dust, vehicle emissions and waste burning.
Delhi’s AQI reached 244 on 21 October at 2 PM, entering the “poor” category. It stood at 179, in the “moderate” category, on 20 October. CAQM said forecasts indicated poor air quality would continue over the coming days.
Offices are not subject to a mandatory work-from-home () order at this stage. For office workers, Stage I does not require reduced attendance or changes to office timings.
Employers are encouraged to arrange shared commuting for staff to reduce road traffic. Employees are advised to use public transport or carpool. Public transport services should expand.
Mandatory staggered timings for specified government offices appear under Stage II. Under Stage III, governments must decide whether to allow offices to operate at 50% attendance.
The remaining staff would work from home under such arrangements. Stage I itself contains neither requirement.
Construction and demolition activities can continue, provided sites follow dust control rules. Materials and waste must remain covered, including during transport.
Projects covering at least 500 square metres must meet registration and monitoring requirements. Work at projects failing these requirements cannot proceed.
Open burning of biomass and municipal waste is banned. Illegal dumping of waste in open areas is also prohibited. Authorities must collect waste regularly and prevent fires at landfill sites.
Vehicles must follow , with stricter checks on Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates. Visibly polluting vehicles face seizure, maximum penalties, or both. Existing restrictions on overaged petrol and diesel vehicles must be enforced.
Stage I does not impose a general ban on private cars. However, specified interstate and intercity buses face restrictions in Delhi-NCR. Only electric, CNG and BS-VI diesel buses qualify from the listed states.
These include Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Jammu and Kashmir is also covered.
Hotels, restaurants and open eateries cannot use coal or firewood in tandoors. They must use electricity, gas or other clean fuels. Industries must follow emission limits and use approved fuels.
Diesel generators cannot be used as regular electricity sources. Their operation remains subject to capacity limits, emission controls and emergency exemptions. Existing court orders concerning firecrackers must also be enforced.
Stage I covers AQI readings between 201 and 300. Higher stages introduce additional restrictions as pollution worsens.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said authorities were implementing an 11-point action plan. He identified dust control, electric vehicles and vehicle emissions among the government’s priorities.
