The Delhi government has notified a new winter action plan that mandates anti-pollution measures from November to February regardless of daily air quality levels. The move follows an analysis showing that strict GRAP stages 3 and 4 were in force for about 40 days each of the last three winters.
On Wednesday the Delhi government issued the plan. It makes work from home, staggered office timings, construction curbs and vehicle restrictions mandatory between November 1 and February 28.
The decision rests on data from the past three winters. In each season fewer than 12 of the 120 days were free from curbs beyond GRAP stage 1, while stages 3 and 4 together covered roughly 40 days.
A Council on Energy, Environment and Water report released in May criticised the existing GRAP system for frequent tightening and relaxation of rules. It called for a more predictable approach based on pollution sources rather than daily AQI readings alone.