According to reports, more than 2.6 lakh vehicles were fined for not having Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates as a result of the authorities’ crackdown on those in Delhi who violated air pollution standards, and more than 260 crore in fines were collected.
The GRAP, or Graded Response Action Plan, was used to launch the crackdown. Up to 2,60,258 challans were issued by the Delhi government’s Environment Department throughout the four GRAP stages between October 16 and December 6.
Here’s the list
Stage 1 (October 16-22): 12,756 challans
Stage 2 (October 22-November 14): 1,11,235
Stage 3 (November 15-17): 13,938
Stage 4 (November 18-December 5): 114,089
According to official data, 8,240 challans have been issued since December 5, when the national capital returned to Stage 2, which is currently in effect. A driver who does not have a pollution certificate faces a ₹10,000 fine. For the first time this year, Delhi’s air quality fell into the “severe plus” category on November 17, when it reached 450.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) responded by enforcing anti-pollution measures under GRAP’s most stringent degree of action, Stage 4. When Stage 4 limits went into effect on the morning of November 18, the city’s air quality index (AQI) was 494, the second-worst it had been in six years.
With exceptions for vehicles transporting necessities or utilising clean fuel, including as LNG, CNG, BS-VI diesel, or electric cars, the surge led to a total ban on non-essential trucks entering Delhi.
With the exception of EVs and CNG/BS-VI diesel vehicles, non-essential light commercial vehicles from outside the city were also prohibited. First put into effect in 2017, GRAP is a collection of anti-air pollution measures that, depending on the severity of the issue, are followed in the city and its surrounding areas.