*AAP Govt to strictly enforce GRAP-III restrictions to reduce air pollution in Delhi, Environment Minister Gopal Rai holds high-level meeting*
*106 shuttle bus services to be launched, Delhi Metro will run 60 additional trips to promote usage of public transport over private vehicles: Gopal Rai*
*Blanket ban on private Construction & Demolition activities in Delhi: Gopal Rai*
*Officials from relevant departments to conduct continuous inspections to monitor construction ban: Gopal Rai*
NEW DELHI:15.11.24-In response to the severe air pollution levels in Delhi, the AAP’s Delhi Government is set to enforce GRAP-III restrictions, aiming to reduce pollution across the city. Environment Minister Gopal Rai held a high-level meeting with key departments to discuss and implement urgent measures to address the crisis.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai stated that the pollution levels in Delhi have been in the severe category for the past two days. He noted that today’s AQI is 415, down from 455 yesterday, with further improvement expected tomorrow.
The Environment Minister further stated that under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which operates in four phases, Phase-III was enforced by the CAQM across the NCR region when the AQI crossed 400. He said, “To ensure the effective implementation of GRAP-III in Delhi, a meeting was held today with officials from key departments such as MCD, PWD, Irrigation and Flood Department, DSIDC, Transport Department, Metro, DTC, and Education Department, as well as nodal officers working under the Winter Action Plan.”
Minister Gopal Rai shared that the meeting resulted in several important decisions. The first of these was the introduction of 106 shuttle bus services by DTC to boost public transport in Delhi. These buses will run 1,844 trips, with 40 bus services specifically for government employees living throughout Delhi. The aim is to reduce private vehicle use and lower pollution. The shuttle services will connect various colonies, including Dwarka, Nehru Place, and CGO Complex, and will serve offices in areas such as Badarpur, Janakpuri, and Paharganj.
He further added that to encourage more use of public transport, the Delhi Metro has decided to increase 60 trips. The Minister emphasized, “the MCD has extended the operating hours of 65 MRS machines used for road cleaning, now running from 6 AM to 4 PM.
“Furthermore, 200 mobile anti-smoke guns will be deployed for water sprinkling across Delhi in three shifts, with a separate driver assigned to each shift to ensure continuous operation. To ensure smooth implementation, a nodal officer has been appointed in the Green War Room to monitor these activities closely, with daily reports being submitted,” shared the Minister.
The Environment Minister announced that under GRAP-III, a blanket ban has been imposed on private construction and demolition activities. This includes a halt on excavation work, such as boring and drilling, as well as all demolition, brick masonry, and gas cutting activities. Additionally, the operation of RMC batching plants, painting, polishing, burnishing, and cement plaster and casting work will also be restricted. However, small internal repair works will continue.
He further stated, “Cutting and grinding of stones, waterproofing work, road construction, and major repair works will be prohibited. The transportation of dust-creating materials like cement, fly ash, sand, gravel, pebbles, and crushed stones to and from project sites will also be halted. The movement of vehicles carrying construction materials on unpaved roads will also be restricted.”
Minister Gopal Rai clarified that the restrictions apply only to private construction and demolition activities, while essential projects are exempt. These include railway and metro services and station projects, airport and interstate bus terminals, national security and defence-related activities, and projects of national importance.
He further assured that government projects in Delhi, such as those by PWD, MCD, Irrigation and Flood Department, and Water Board, along with public infrastructure projects like highways, roads, flyovers, power transmission, pipelines, telecommunication services, sanitation projects, sewage treatment plants, and water supply projects, will continue without interruption.
The Delhi Minister stated that linear projects such as roads by PWD, MCD, the Irrigation and Flood Department, and pipeline installation work will continue. Due to high vehicle pollution and PM 2.5 levels, a ban has been enforced on BS-III Petrol and BS-IV Diesel four-wheel vehicles, as well as diesel medium goods vehicles registered under BS-III or lower standards. These vehicles will be restricted from operating, although essential service vehicles will be exempt.
“Additionally, medium goods carriers registered outside Delhi will be banned from entering the city, and interstate buses from surrounding NCR states will also be restricted, with exceptions for Electric, CNG and BS-VI buses,” he added.
“To ensure the effective implementation of these measures, the Transport Department has deployed 84 teams, along with 280 Transport Police teams, to enforce the rules. Violators will face a fine of Rs 20,000. We are confident that Delhi’s pollution levels will decrease soon. We all work together responsibly to reduce pollution from our end,” concluded Minister Gopal Rai.