The government of Maharashtra has planned to implement an emergency response system, similar to Delhi’s Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), to combat air pollution. This will be carried out in non-compliant cities that have been unable to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM 10 (particulate matter less than or equal to 10 microns in diameter) or NO2 (nitrogen dioxide).

The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) drafted the plan and shared it with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other eligible local agencies in September 2020. According to officials, this may be implemented in time for next year’s pollution cycle.

GRAP is a set of measures that are triggered in stages as air quality deteriorates. For example, when the Delhi-NCR Air Quality Index (AQI) reaches the “severe” category, municipal companies in Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh will ban polluting activities such as construction and operation of cement mixing plants and operation of diesel generators to step up patrols Open burning. Every winter, when the air quality reaches the “extremely poor” AQI, the National Capital Region (NCR) will start sprinkler cleaning activities under GRAP to control dust pollution. category.

MPCB ​​divides air quality into four stages (from “medium” to “emergency”) based on the daily concentration of particulate pollutants PM2.5 and PM10. In Delhi, pollution control measures include sweeping dust under “medium” conditions, implementing a parity vehicle rationing plan, and a total ban on construction works when pollution levels reach “severe” levels.

These levels and their prescribed actions are uniform in Maharashtra. When the air quality remains within a category within 48 hours, the municipal agency will implement it.

GRAP will be implemented in 25 non-compliant cities and 5 resident committees across the state. A senior MPCB official told: “All municipal companies and councils of substandard cities in Maharashtra have received a GRAP. They were told to take appropriate actions to improve air quality through implementation, but this It hasn’t happened yet. It’s up to the city local agency (ULB) to start doing this. MPCB will act as the regulator of the plan and seek daily reports from the environmental department that implements ULB.”

The official further informed that in coastal cities like Mumbai, where winters are very mild, the air quality may never reach the “emergency” category. But in cities like Pune, or western cities like Nasik and Nagpur, where winters are very intense, GRAP will play an important role in curbing air pollution.

Complete News Source : Hindustan Times