Report on implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and learning from first smog emergency of 2017
EPCA suggests diesel vehicle ban to combat winter smog. It also suggested additional emergency measures such as “stickers indicating fuel and age on all vehicles through PUC”, so that categories of vehicles can be prohibited based on threat level. While noting that crop burning was a “contributory factor” to the capital’s air pollution and “not the only problem”, the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) has suggested a “ban on all diesel vehicles” during smog in winters. It also suggested additional emergency measures such as “stickers indicating fuel and age on all vehicles through PUC”, so that categories of vehicles can be prohibited based on threat level. This, however, will require intervention from relevant ministries so that the stickers are tamper-proof, the EPCA said. On November 13, the Supreme Court-appointed pollution watchdog submitted a report to the apex court on the “implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and learning from the first smog emergency of 2017”. It analysed the performance of the state and Centre and found several problems in implementation of GRAP. Sources in the EPCA said the body is considering a proposal to make the enforcement mechanism “automatic”.