Jairam Ramesh slams over-reliance on GRAP amid Delhi’s pollution crisis

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh Tuesday criticised the government’s reliance on the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to tackle Delhi’s pollution crisis, saying it’s a reactive approach focusing on crisis management rather than avoidance.

“GRAP was expected to become less necessary over time as year-round emission reduction improved. Sadly, it has remained the dominant focus of clean-air action,” Ramesh said, highlighting the need for multi-sectoral actions to address the root causes of pollution.

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The GRAP-III has been activated in the nation’s capital, with Delhi requiring a more than 60 per cent reduction in annual PM2.5 levels to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Ramesh emphasised the need for sustained efforts, saying, “We need tough multi-sectoral actions with scale and speed round the year and not just in Oct-Nov for change that makes a real difference and mitigates the huge hazards to public health.”

Ramesh’s comments come as Delhi struggles with deteriorating air quality, prompting authorities to take measures to curb pollution.