Delhi’s Pollution Battle: Minister Gopal Rai on GRAP-III Decision
In New Delhi, the air pollution levels have been a major concern. Delhi’s Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, announced that the government will not implement the third phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-III) for now. This decision came after a meeting by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on GRAP-III.
GRAP-III is usually enforced when pollution reaches a ‘severe’ level, involving bans on construction and demolition, and possibly halting in-person classes for young students. However, due to predictions of improving weather conditions, the government decided to continue with GRAP-II measures instead.
Minister Rai emphasized that all departments must strictly follow GRAP-II to prevent reaching the severe category. He noted that the current pollution spike is due to decreased temperatures and wind speed, but improvements are expected as temperatures rise and wind speeds increase.
Despite the AQI reaching 425, categorized as ‘severe’, the India Meteorological Department predicts that increased wind activity may soon lower pollution levels to the ‘very poor’ category. The situation has been challenging since post-Diwali, with dense smog affecting the city.
Doubts Revealed
Gopal Rai -: Gopal Rai is a politician in India who is currently serving as the Environment Minister of Delhi. He is responsible for making decisions related to the environment and pollution in the city.
GRAP-III -: GRAP-III stands for Graded Response Action Plan, which is a set of measures to control air pollution in Delhi. GRAP-III includes stricter actions for severe pollution levels, but it is not being implemented right now because the weather is expected to improve.
GRAP-II -: GRAP-II is a part of the Graded Response Action Plan that includes measures for moderate to high pollution levels. These measures are currently being enforced in Delhi to help reduce pollution.
Commission for Air Quality Management -: The Commission for Air Quality Management is a government body in India that oversees and manages air quality in the National Capital Region, including Delhi. They help make decisions on how to control pollution.
AQI -: AQI stands for Air Quality Index, which is a number used to communicate how polluted the air is. An AQI of 425 is considered very high and unhealthy, meaning the air is not safe to breathe.
