GRAP offers short-term relief but fails to fix Delhi’s air pollution problem: Experts
New Delhi: Environmental experts say Delhi’s Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) helps control pollution during emergencies but does little to tackle the root causes of the city’s worsening air quality.
Environmental analyst Sunil Dahiya said GRAP works as a short-term response but has not led to any meaningful reduction in overall pollution levels. He pointed out that the plan relies on outdated emission data and lacks a system to measure whether the steps taken actually reduce emissions across Delhi-NCR.
Experts also flagged poor coordination between tools like the Decision Support System and the Real-Time Advanced Air Source Management Network, which limits the ability to assess GRAP’s real impact.
Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group director Bharati Chaturvedi said Delhi needs long-term solutions such as less traffic congestion, stronger public transport, an end to waste and biomass burning, and better monitoring. She compared GRAP to “temporary treatment” and warned that relying only on emergency curbs will keep the city trapped in the same cycle every year.
In November 2025, the Commission for Air Quality Management tightened GRAP rules, triggering restrictions at earlier pollution stages. These include curbs on diesel generators, traffic management steps, public alerts, and increased use of CNG and electric public transport. Work-from-home norms and staggered office hours are also now enforced sooner as air quality worsens.
Climate policy expert Harjeet Singh stressed the need for strict, region-wide governance and heavy investment in public transport, saying pollution control must focus on sources rather than symptoms.
Responding to the criticism, a CAQM official said GRAP measures are reviewed regularly and efforts are underway to strengthen enforcement and introduce stricter controls.
Despite these steps, Delhi continues to struggle with dirty air. In 2025, the city recorded the highest average PM10 levels in the country, and air quality slipped to the ‘very poor’ category again on Wednesday, with several monitoring stations reporting ‘severe’ pollution levels.
(with inputs from agencies)
