"Important that similar to lockdown measures implemented in Delhi": Environmentalist Vimlendu Jha on GRAP IV

Gurugram (Haryana) [India], November 18 : Following the implementation of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage IV in Delhi to combat air pollution, environmentalist Vimlendu Kumar Jha on Monday said that these measures "similar to lockdown" were important to be executed in the national capital.
"This is the second day when the air quality index of Delhi NCR has been in the severe plus category. Glad that the government or Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has announced GRAP IV measures to be executed in Delhi NCR. It was important that these similar to lockdown measures are implemented in Delhi but we need to understand that this is not a solution," he said.
Jha said that GRAP IV measures are "bandages and only a last-minute solution" to the crisis that Delhi people are facing.
"Indeed, it's important that we actually forwarn the citizens, we keep the citizens safe but those concrete plans in terms of looking at what should be the ideal solution to pollution, what are the long-term measures for air quality improvement that have not been taken. GRAP IV is only a bandage, it is only a last-minute solution to the crisis that we are in," he said.
Highlighting the contribution of stubble burning to the air pollution in Delhi, Jha claimed that the situation in the national capital is going to get worse in in coming days.
"The situation is only going to get worse in in coming days. Right now, we saw yesterday the contribution of stubble burning to the ambient air quality of Delhi was around 32 per cent with the temperatures going down, and the wind speed decreasing in the coming week perhaps for the next 6-7 days the situation is going to remain in severe plus category or perhaps cross 500 or 550 in various areas of Delhi NCR," he said.
Meanwhile, India Meteorological Department (IMD) scientist Naresh Kumar said that the Delhi-NCR will be covered by moderate to dense fog for the next 3-4 days.
"Dense to very dense fog is prevailing in North and North-west India... In the coming days, dense to very dense fog will prevail in Haryana and Punjab for the next 5 days. Delhi-NCR will also be covered by moderate to dense fog for the next 3-4 days," he said.
Earlier, Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday, asserted that the Delhi government is "doing its part" and demanded the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre to take immediate action to protect not just Delhi, but the entire North India region from the rising pollution.
"At its level, the Delhi government is taking all possible steps. We have directed all officials to ensure strict implementation of GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) IV guidelines. I demand that the Central government take emergency measures so that the whole of north India can be saved from this situation," Rai said addressing a press conference in the national capital.
Claiming the reduced incidents of stubble burning in Punjab, Rai expressed concerns over the purported increase in stubble burning cases in Uttar Pradesh.
"Stubble is a big factor in pollution. In Punjab, we have reduced the incidents of stubble burning to 7 thousand as compared to 74 thousand in 2022, but in Uttar Pradesh, the incidents of stubble burning have increased from 1.5 thousand to 2.5 thousand," he claimed.
Notably, CAQM imposed the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage IV in Delhi NCR from Monday, which saw the Air Quality Index (AQI) dipping into the 'severe plus' category.
This decision was taken after Delhi's daily average AQI rose sharply to 441 by 4 pm on Sunday and further escalated to 457 by 7 pm, which prompted an emergency meeting of the GRAP Sub-Committee.