News Update

CSIR's indigenously developed 'Paracetamol' unveiledPM lays bricks for new building for Central Ayurveda Research InstituteGST - Writ courts do not interfere where statutory remedies are available unless there is a clear violation of fundamental rights, lack of jurisdiction, or procedural perversity leading to manifest injustice: HCDraft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules releasedGST - SCN forms the foundation, thus departure from SCN or if order traverses beyond SCN, it is necessary that the petitioner is put on notice on the basis of which the order was intended to be made: HCNew campus of Indian Institute of Handloom Technology inauguratedGST - Petitioner's grievances primarily relate to invocation of extended period of limitation, allegations of misclassification of goods and denial of ITC - Each of these issues necessitates a detailed factual inquiry, which is outside the purview of this Court: HCICMR says HMPV virus is already in circulation in IndiaGST - Royalty services - Petitioner allowed to take re-credit of the tax paid by them on reverse charge basis since they are not entitled for cash refund u/s 142(3): HCServices PMI jumps to 59.3 in Dec monthGST - Act of respondent in suspending registration pending enquiry would be too harsh as petitioner would not be in a position to conduct his business: HCPM virtually inaugurates state-of-the-art Cherlapally railway terminal in HyderabadGST - Bench allows petition to be withdrawn without making any observation as regards merits or the maintainability of appeal if filed beyond limitation: HCBangladesh court issues second arrest warrant against Sheikh HasinaST - SVLDRS, 2019 - Duplication of demand, therefore, dispute raised can be settled by utilising a deposit made under a different SCN - Appeal dismissed: HC2015 batch IRS officers of CBIC are unhappy lot!Tax Gap Estimation - An IntroductionChouhan reviews schemes with Agri Ministers of StatesStalin announces USD one million prize for decoding Indus Valley scriptJoshi visits India's largest Floating Solar project in OmkareshwarHMPV scare - States take precautionary measuresDPIIT partners with Stride Ventures to accelerate Global Expansion of StartupsDelhi Customs nabs two Brazilians with cocaine worth Rs 20 CrPM inaugurates Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 20255 Indian-origin men arrested in US for murder of an IndianI-T- Assessment order quashed where passed without granting opportunity of personal hearing: HCGlobal Power City Index 2024: Dubai ranks 8thGunman opens fire at Mexico Bar - 5 killed & 7 injuredISRO succeeds in cultivating crops in space & demonstrates first walking robotic arm in space
 
CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP invokes Stage-III in NCR

By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, JAN 04, 2025: TODAY, Delhi's average Air Quality Index (AQI) has been on an increasing trend and breached the 350 mark as at 4PM it clocked 371 as per the Daily AQI Bulletin provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). In wake of deteriorating air quality of Delhi, the Sub-Committee on the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas met yesterday.

The Sub-Committee while comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality scenario in the region as well as the forecasts for meteorological conditions and air quality index made available by IMD/IITM during the meeting noted that today the average AQI of Delhi has crossed the 350 mark and is showing an increasing trend owing dense fog, low mixing height, variable winds and unfavorable meteorological conditions . Further, the forecasts from IMD/ IITM also suggest a likelihood of the average AQI of Delhi to particularly remain in this adverse range for the coming days owing to unfavorable meteorological conditions.

Keeping in view the prevailing trend of air quality, and in an effort to prevent further deterioration of air quality in the region, the Sub-Committee today has taken the call to invoke all actions as envisaged under Stage-III of revised GRAP - 'Severe' Air Quality (DELHI AQI ranging between 401-450), with immediate effect, in the entire NCR. This is in addition to the actions under Stages I & II of revised GRAP already in-force in NCR. Various agencies responsible for implementing measures under GRAP including Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of NCR and DPCC have also been addressed to ensure strict implementation of actions under Stage-III of revised GRAP in addition to actions under Stages I & II of GRAP during this period.

A 9-point action plan as per Stage-III of revised GRAP is applicable with immediate effect in the entire NCR. This 9-point action plan includes steps to be implemented/ ensured by different agencies including Pollution Control Boards of NCR and DPCC. These steps are:

1. Construction & Demolition activities:

(i) Enforce strict restrictions on the following categories of dust generating/ air pollution causing C&D activities in the entire NCR:

- Earthwork for excavation and filling including boring & drilling works.

- Piling works.

- All demolition works.

- Laying of sewer line, water line, drainage and electric cabling etc. by open trench system.

- Brick /masonry works.

- Operation of RMC batching plant.

- Major welding and gas-cutting operations. Minor welding activities for MEP works (Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing) to be, however, permitted . 

- Painting, polishing and varnishing works etc.

- Cement, Plaster / other coatings, except for minor indoor repairs/ maintenance.

- Cutting / grinding and fixing of tiles, stones and other flooring materials, except for minor indoor repairs/ maintenance.

- Road construction activities and major repairs.

- Transfer, loading / unloading of dust generating materials like cement, fly-ash, bricks, sand, murram, pebbles, crushed stone etc. anywhere within / outside the project sites.

- Movement of vehicles carrying construction materials on unpaved roads.

- Any transportation of demolition waste.

(ii) All construction related activities, other than those listed under 4(i) above , which are relatively less polluting / less dust generating shall be permitted to be continued in the NCR, subject to strict compliance of the C&D Waste Management Rules, dust prevention/ control norms including compliance with the directions of the Commission issued from time to time.

(iii) All C&D related activities, including those under 4(i) above, shall be continued to be permitted only for the following categories of projects, however subject to strict compliance of the C&D Waste Management Rules, dust prevention/ control norms including compliance with the directions of the Commission issued from time to time:

a. Projects for Railway services and stations

b. Projects for Metro Rail Services and stations

c. Airports and Inter State Bus Terminals

d. National security/ defence related activities/ projects of national importance

e. Hospitals/ health care facilities

f. Linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, over bridges, power transmission/ distribution, pipelines, tele-communication services etc.

g. Sanitation projects like sewage treatment plants and water supply projects etc.

h. Ancillary activities, specific to and supplementing the above project categories.

2. Close down operations of stone crushers in the entire NCR.

3. Close down all mining and associated activities in the entire NCR.

4. NCR State Govts. / GNCTD to impose strict restrictions on plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel LMVs (4 wheelers) in Delhi and in the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.

Note: Persons with Disabilities shall be permitted to ply BS - III Petrol / BS - IV Diesel LMVs, provided that these are specifically adopted for them and are run only for their personal use.

5. GNCTD to impose strict restrictions on plying of Delhi - registered Diesel operated Medium Goods Vehicles (MGVs) to BS-IV standards or below, in Delhi, except those vehicles carrying essential commodities / providing essential services.

6. GNCTD to not permit BS-IV and below diesel operated LCVs (goods carriers) registered outside Delhi, to enter Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities / providing essential services.

7.

(i) State Govts. in the NCR and the GNCTD to mandatorily conduct classes in schools for children up to class V in a "Hybrid" mode i.e., both in physical and online mode (wherever online mode is feasible) in the territorial jurisdiction of the NCT of Delhi and in the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar.

(ii) The NCR State Governments may also consider conducting classes for students up to Class V in a "Hybrid" mode as above in other areas in NCR.

Note: The option to exercise the online mode of education, wherever available, shall vest with the students and their guardians.

8.

(i) GNCTD and NCR State Governments to stagger timings for public offices and municipal bodies in the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar.

(ii) State Governments may take a decision to stagger timings for public offices and municipal bodies in other areas of NCR.

9. Central Government may take a decision on staggering of timings of Central Government offices in Delhi - NCR.

Further, CAQM urges the citizens of NCR to cooperate in implementing GRAP and follow the steps mentioned in the Citizen Charter under GRAP. In addition to steps under Citizen Charter of Stages I & II, citizens are advised to:

- Walk or use cycles for small distances.

- Choose a cleaner commute. Share a ride to work or use public transport.

- People, whose positions allow working from home, may work from home.

- Do not use coal and wood for heating purpose.

- Individual house owners may also provide electric heaters to security/ other staff employed by them to avoid open burning of bio-mass/ wood/ MSW.

- Combine errands and reduce trips.

Complete details of the revised schedule of GRAP (December, 2024) are available on the Commission's website and can be accessed via https://caqm.nic.in


POST YOUR COMMENTS
   

TIOL Tube Latest

Former Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, delivering his Award Acceptance Speech after receiving TIOL Fiscal Heritage Award 2022 on Nov 8 at Taj Palace, New Delhi



Technical Session I - Ease of Doing Business: GST on Digital Economy