Graded Response Action Plan - Delhi

What is the issue?

• Some stricter measures to fight air pollution will come into force in Delhi’s neighbourhood starting October 15 2019, as part of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
• In this backdrop, here is an overview of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

What are the recent pollution control measures?

• In 2018, the ban on using diesel generator sets was implemented only in Delhi. In the current year (2019), it is being extended to a few NCR towns.
• Notably, many areas here see regular power cuts.
• Rural areas are, however, being left out of this stringent measure because of unreliable power supply.
• The measures that are coming into force will be incremental.
• As pollution rises, and it is expected to rise as winter approaches, more measures will come into play depending on the air quality.
• All these measures are part of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) that has been in effect for 2 years in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).

What is GRAP?

• The GRAP was formulated in 2016 and approved by the Supreme Court in the same year.
• It was notified in 2017 by the Centre, and draws its authority from this notification.
• It was planned after several meetings of EPCA (Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority) with state government officials and experts.
• GRAP institutionalised the measures to be taken when air quality deteriorates.
• It aims to roll out progressively tougher actions as pollution levels rise, without waiting for an emergency to impose strict measures.

How does GRAP work?

• The plan is incremental in nature.
• So, it does not include action by various state governments to be taken throughout the year to tackle emissions.
• Rather, when the air quality shifts from poor to very poor, the measures listed have to be followed.
• If air quality reaches the severe stage, GRAP talks about shutting down schools and implementing the odd-even road-space rationing scheme.

• The plan requires action and coordination among 13 different agencies in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan (NCR areas).
• At the top is the EPCA, mandated by the Supreme Court.
• Before the imposition of any measure, EPCA holds a meeting with representatives from all NCR states.
• A call is taken on which actions have to be made applicable in which town.

How effective has GRAP been?

• GRAP has been successful in doing two things that had not been done before -
  1. creating a step-by-step plan for the entire Delhi-NCR region
  2. getting on board several agencies: all pollution control boards, industrial area authorities, municipal corporations, regional officials of IMD and others

• The biggest success of GRAP has been in fixing accountability and deadlines.
• For each action to be taken under a particular air quality category, executing agencies are clearly marked.
• In a territory like Delhi, where a multiplicity of authorities has been a long-standing impediment to effective governance, this step made a crucial difference.
• Clear demarcation of responsibilities has made easier the coordination among as many as 13 agencies from 4 states.
• Three major policy decisions that can be credited to EPCA and GRAP are-
  1. the closure of the thermal power plant at Badarpur
  2. bringing BS-VI fuel to Delhi before the deadline set initially
  3. the ban on Pet coke as a fuel in Delhi NCR

What are the shortfalls?

• A major concern with the EPCA and the GRAP has been the focus on Delhi.
• Delhi has always been the first one to have stringent measures enforced.
• Other states have managed to delay several measures, citing lack of resources.
• For GRAP as well as EPCA, the next challenge is to extend the measures to other states effectively.

Source: Indian Express

Quick Fact

EPCA

• The EPCA, headed by retired IAS officer Bhure Lal and including members from the Centre for Science and Environment, was constituted in 1998 by the Supreme Court.
• The initial mandate of the body was to ensure the shift of Delhi’s bus and auto fleet to CNG.
• The body continues to monitor pollution and assists the Supreme Court in several pollution-related matters.