NEW DELHI: As air quality in Delhi-NCR deteriorates to ‘severe’ levels, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has implemented Stage-III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), enforcing immediate restrictions on construction and demolition activities in the area. Real estate developers and industry organizations have committed to adhering to these directives, underscoring their environmental responsibility by adopting dust control and pollution reduction measures at all active sites.
Pradeep Aggarwal, founder and chairman of Signature Global (India), stated, “Although temporary restrictions on construction may necessitate short-term changes, such actions are vital for promoting environmental sustainability and public health. Our teams are dedicated to full compliance at our sites while implementing advanced dust suppression systems, securing raw materials, and integrating greenery to reduce air pollution.”
CREDAI Western Uttar Pradesh has directed its members and developers to strictly adhere to pollution control regulations.
Dinesh Gupta, president of CREDAI Western UP, stated, “We urge all developers and builders to prioritize and comply with all guidelines related to pollution control at their construction sites. We have instructed our members to ensure that construction materials are never left exposed, that regular water sprinkling is performed to curb dust, that debris is properly managed, and that trucks are covered before leaving the site.”
Agencies responsible for implementing the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), including the Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of the National Capital Region (NCR) and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), are required to strictly enforce the actions indicated under Stage-III while maintaining measures from Stages I and II. A detailed nine-point action plan under Stage-III is now in effect across the entire NCR, aimed at addressing severe air pollution episodes through inter-agency coordination and enhanced monitoring.
This mandate imposes rigorous restrictions on various construction and demolition (C&D) activities known to produce dust pollution. Banned activities include excavation and filling earthwork, boring, drilling, piling, and all forms of demolition. Open-trench installations for utilities like sewer and drainage lines, along with brickwork, operations of ready-mix concrete (RMC) plants, and major welding or gas-cutting works are also prohibited, although minor MEP-related welding is allowed. Furthermore, restrictions apply to painting, polishing, plastering, tiling, road construction, and major repair works. The order also bans the transfer or loading of dust-generating materials such as cement, sand, fly ash, bricks, and crushed stone, as well as vehicle movements carrying construction materials on unpaved roads or transporting demolition debris.
CREDAI Western UP has reiterated its commitment to closely collaborate with local authorities to ensure that all measures specified under GRAP-III are effectively executed.
