Delhi Winter Action Plan Came Into Effect On Nov, Pg4

Key Highlights:

• The Delhi government's Winter Action Plan came into effect on November 1, initiating a complete ban on civil construction activities.
• Approximately 300 construction sites are inspected daily, with just over 15% found violating the ban.
• Penalties totaling Rs 75.6 lakh were imposed on violators of pollution control norms, including Rs 53.8 lakh for Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) infractions.
• Over 70% of the penalties related to construction and demolition activities were levied against sites measuring less than 500 sq m.
• Around 10 construction sites have been ordered to shut down in the initial three days of enforcement.

Delhi Winter Action Plan.jpg

Detailed Insights:

• The Delhi Winter Action Plan for 2026-27 was announced on October 20, 2026, by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, with measures effective from November 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027.
• Key components of the plan include restrictions on polluting vehicles, a 'No PUC, No Fuel' policy, work-from-home directives, increased parking charges, and stringent construction controls.
• The ban on dust-generating demolition and outdoor civil construction activities is in force from November 1 to January 31.
• A more comprehensive ban on all construction and demolition activities, with specific exemptions, is scheduled from December 10 to January 20.
• The plan also prohibits non-Delhi registered vehicles that do not comply with BS-VI emission norms from entering the capital between November 1 and January 31.
• Enforcement responsibilities are shared among various agencies, including the Transport Department, Delhi Traffic Police, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), and municipal bodies.
• Major contributors to winter air pollution in Delhi include vehicular emissions, industrial activities, construction dust, waste burning, and agricultural stubble burning in adjacent states.
• The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), overseen by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), provides a structured framework for implementing pollution control measures based on Air Quality Index (AQI) levels.
• The DPCC has mandated daily enforcement reports from seven government agencies to ensure effective implementation of pollution control measures.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Winter Action Plan: An annual comprehensive strategy by the Delhi government to mitigate severe air pollution during the winter season.
• Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC): A mandatory document for vehicles in India, certifying that their emission levels meet prescribed government standards.
• Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): A Supreme Court-approved framework that outlines escalating actions for Delhi-NCR governments in response to worsening air pollution levels.
• BS-VI Emission Norms: Bharat Stage VI are emission standards set by the Indian government to regulate the output of air pollutants from internal combustion engines.