Congress slams 'reactive' pollution strategy as Centre enforces GRAP-III in Delhi-NCR

As the Centre activated stricter anti-pollution measures in Delhi-NCR on Tuesday, 11 November, the Congress criticised the government for focusing on “crisis management” instead of long-term “crisis avoidance”, calling for sustained, multi-sectoral efforts throughout the year rather than short bursts of action every winter.

The Centre enforced Stage III of the GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) after Delhi’s air quality plunged into the ‘severe’ category. The CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) said the city’s average AQI jumped from 362 on Monday to 425 on Tuesday morning due to calm winds, a stable atmosphere and unfavourable weather that trapped pollutants near the surface.

Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said that GRAP, mandated by the Supreme Court in response to the 2014–17 winter pollution crisis and formally notified in January 2017, was intended as an emergency mechanism.

GRAP-III has just been activated in the nation's capital.

Responding to the 2014-17 winter pollution crisis, the Supreme Court mandated the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for emergency measures during severe smog episodes. This was notified in Jan 2017.

GRAP was expected…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) November 11, 2025

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“GRAP was expected to become less necessary over time as year-round emission reduction improved,” he noted.

“Sadly, it has remained the dominant focus of clean-air action.”

He argued that GRAP has become “essentially reactive”, pointing out that while it was originally triggered only after three consecutive ‘severe’ days, it now responds to daily AQI fluctuations.

“The emphasis is on crisis management and not on crisis avoidance,” Ramesh said. “We need tough multi-sectoral actions with scale and speed round the year and not just in October–November.”

Ramesh also underlined that Delhi still needs to cut its annual PM2.5 levels by more than 60 per cent to meet even the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, let alone the more stringent WHO norms.

Stage III measures include a ban on non-essential construction, closure of stone crushers and mining work, and restrictions on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi and NCR districts, with exemptions for persons with disabilities. Schools up to Class 5 must move to hybrid mode, with online options available for parents who choose them.

These curbs are in addition to Stages I and II of GRAP, which are already in force.

With PTI inputs

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