Executive Summary:
This document outlines the Indian Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change's response to a parliamentary question regarding the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the National Capital Region (NCR). The plan, revised on December 13, 2024, by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), addresses air pollution from construction and demolition (CD) waste, municipal solid waste (MSW) burning, vehicular and industrial emissions. Stage I of GRAP includes specific actions and restrictions related to CD activities and vehicular pollution.
Key Points / Main Content:
Construction and Demolition (CD) Waste Management:
* Enforcement of dust mitigation measures and sound environmental management of CD waste.
* CD activities are prohibited for projects ≥500 sqm not registered on state/GNCTD web portals or not meeting CAQM directions for remote dust monitoring.
* Proper storage, containment, and covering of CD materials/waste are required. Transportation must be in covered vehicles.
* Regular CD waste removal from dedicated sites is mandated, prohibiting illegal dumping.
* Strict enforcement of anti-smog gun usage based on project built-up area.
* Intensified use of anti-smog guns, water sprinkling, and dust suppression in road projects.
* Rapid redressal of pollution complaints via SAMEER App, 311 App, Green Delhi App, and social media.
Vehicular Emission Control:
* Strict enforcement of Pollution Under Control (PUC) norms.
* Impounding or maximum penalties for visibly polluting vehicles.
* Diversion of non-destined truck traffic via Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways.
* Stage I of GRAP actions in NCR are publicly available on the CAQM website.
Impact Analysis:
Construction Companies/Developers:
* Impact: Stricter enforcement of dust control measures, registration requirements, and waste management protocols. Potential limitations on construction activities.
* Action Required: Register projects on relevant web portals, ensure compliance with dust mitigation measures, manage CD waste properly, and adhere to transportation guidelines.
Vehicle Owners:
* Impact: Increased scrutiny and penalties for non-compliance with PUC norms.
* Action Required: Maintain vehicles to meet PUC standards and avoid visibly polluting.
Trucking Companies/Drivers:
* Impact: Potential rerouting of non-destined trucks through peripheral expressways.
* Action Required: Adhere to designated routes to avoid Delhi.
Citizens of Delhi-NCR:
* Impact: Improved air quality through reduced pollution from CD activities and vehicular emissions.
* Action Required: Report polluting activities via designated apps and social media platforms.
Regulatory Bodies (CAQM, State Governments, GNCTD):
* Impact: Increased responsibility for monitoring and enforcing GRAP guidelines.
* Action Required: Ensure effective monitoring of CD sites, enforce PUC norms, manage traffic flow, and address public complaints.
Key Entities Referenced
Graded Response Action Plan: A comprehensive action plan prepared to tackle the issue of sudden rise in air pollution levels.
National Capital Region: A metropolitan region in India which includes Delhi and its surrounding areas.
Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas: An organization responsible for preparing and publishing the revised Graded Response Action Plan.
Construction and Demolition: Refers to waste produced through construction and demolition activities.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and climate change.
SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH: Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Delhi: A city and a union territory of India.
Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways: Expressways used for diversion of non-destined truck traffic for Delhi.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2449
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
Graded Response Action Plan
2449. SMT. KAMALJEET SEHRAWAT:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the details of key components of the 27-point action plan invoked under Stage-I of
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the National Capital Region (NCR);
(b) the measures included in the action plan to regulate waste produced through
construction and demolition activities in NCR; and
(c) the steps taken to control vehicular emissions under the said action plan?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (c):
A comprehensive Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been prepared to tackle the issue
of sudden rise in air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR and revised GRAP has been published by
Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) on
13.12.2024.
Action targeting severe air pollution sources such as Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste
dumping, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) burning, vehicular pollution, industrial pollution is
listed under Stage-I of GRAP.
Actions targeting air pollution from C&D activities have been prescribed under various stages
of GRAP. These includes regular lifting of C&D waste, proper covering, storage and
transportation of C&D materials and waste, water sprinkling and dust suppression measures in
road construction /widening /repair projects and maintenance activities, intensifying inspection
for strict enforcement of dust control measures at C&D sites, ban on C&D activities. During
Stage I of GRAP, following restrictions w.r.t. C&D activities are imposed:
i. Proper implementation of Directions/ Rules/ guidelines on dust mitigation measures is
to be ensured in C&D activities and sound environmental management of C&D waste.
ii. C&D activities are not permitted in respect of the projects with plot size equal to or
more than 500 sqm which are not registered on the ‘web portal’ of the respective state
/ GNCTD and / or which do not fulfil the other requirements as per the statutory CAQM
directions, for remote monitoring of dust mitigation measures.iii. C&D materials & waste must be properly stored/ contained, duly covered in the
premises. The transportation of C&D materials and C&D waste is to be ensured only
through covered vehicles.
iv. Regular lifting of C&D waste is to be ensured from dedicated dump sites and no waste
is to be dumped illegally in open land areas.
v. Statutory directions and yardsticks for use of anti-smog guns is to be strictly ensured at
C&D sites, in proportion to the total built-up area of the project under construction.
vi. The use of anti-smog guns, water sprinkling and dust suppression measures is to be
intensified in road construction / widening / repair projects and maintenance activities.
vii. Quick action is to be ensured for redressal of complaints on SAMEER App, 311 APP,
Green Delhi App and other such social media platforms to curb polluting C&D
activities.
The measures to reduce vehicular pollution under Stage I of GRAP are as under:
i. Strict vigilance and enforcement of PUC norms for vehicles.
ii. Impounding and / or levying maximum penalty on visibly polluting vehicles.
iii. Diversion of non-destined truck traffic for Delhi through Eastern and Western
Peripheral Expressways
Further, the actions prescribed under Stage-I of GRAP in National Capital Region (NCR) are
available in public domain at CAQM website.
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