Mumbai enforces stringent GRAP 4 restrictions as air quality worsens; how curbs are different from Delhi's ?

PTC News Desk: Now Mumbai has joined Delhi in the list of cities engulfed in toxic air. The civic authorities in Mumbai have begun implementing restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Level 4 after the air quality in several parts of the city crossed the 'very poor' and 'severe' levels. Areas affected include Mazgaon, Deonar, Malad, Borivali East, Chakala-Andheri East, Navy Nagar, Powai, and Mulund.

Mumbai's civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, has halted construction and dust-generating activities in these areas, and dozens of sites are being monitored. Stop-work/shutdown notices have been issued to over 50 construction sites. Small industries, including bakeries and marble-cutting units, have been asked to shift to cleaner processes or face action.

Flying squads have been deployed in every ward to mitigate pollution and monitor emissions. 

GRAP-4 In Mumbai: What It Includes

• Mumbai's civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), has halted construction and dust-generating activities in these areas, and dozens of sites are being monitored.
• Stop-work/shutdown notices have been issued to 50 construction and Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC) sites in the worst-affected wards.
• Several small industries, including bakeries, marble-cutting units and other local operations have been asked to shift to cleaner processes or face punitive action.
• Flying squads have been deployed in every ward to enforce pollution-control norms and monitor emissions. These squads include engineers, police personnel and GPS-tracked vehicles.
• Of the 70 sites inspected by BMC, 53 were found violating dust-control rules. Notices have been served to them as well.

How curbs are different from Delhi ?

• In Delhi, when GRAP-4 restrictions are enforced, the following rules usually apply:
• BS-III petrol cars and BS-IV diesel cars (four-wheelers) are not allowed on the roads.
• Schools switch to hybrid learning, meaning classes are partly online and partly offline, except for students of Classes 10 and 12 who may continue physical classes.
• Private companies are advised to allow employees to work from home, while government offices operate with only 50% staff on-site and the rest work remotely.
• Trucks are not allowed to enter Delhi.
• Restrictions also apply to BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles in nearby NCR areas.
• All construction and demolition work is stopped, including government projects like roads, highways, and flyovers.

- With inputs from agencies

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