New Delhi, September 29 (Daily Kiran) : The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has undergone significant revisions to better tackle air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region. On September 29, members of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) approved the updated schedule during a meeting. Dr. S.D. Atri, a technical member of the commission, highlighted that some provisions have been moved to an earlier stage, ensuring they remain in effect year-round.
Previously, the GRAP schedule released in November 2025 had received approval from the Supreme Court. Each year, the schedule is reviewed through discussions with stakeholders and experts. This time, the sub-committee of the GRAP proposed changes that were subsequently approved by the commission.
Two major alterations have been made. The first pertains to inter-city buses. Initially, regulations concerning these buses were part of Stage 2 of the GRAP. They have now been shifted to Stage 1, reflecting their year-round applicability.
Dr. Atri clarified that only buses meeting BS-6 emission standards are allowed to operate in Delhi. This includes CNG, BS-6 diesel, and electric buses, a rule already in place throughout the year, justifying its inclusion in Stage 1 of the GRAP.
The second significant change involves diesel generator (DG) sets. Dr. Atri noted that there are approximately 76 directives related to DG sets that apply year-round. These include regulations concerning generator capacity, dual-fuel kits, and air pollution control devices for units exceeding 800 kilowatts.
He emphasized that since these provisions are applicable year-round, it is unnecessary to implement them in different stages of the GRAP. Consequently, the revised plan mandates that DG set regulations also take effect from Stage 1.
The CAQM member stated that while preparing the revised GRAP, measures related to various sectors, including transportation and solid waste management, were logically integrated. This approach aims to enhance coordination between sustainable pollution control measures and the phased provisions of the GRAP.
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