The Delhi government on Friday banned the entry of trucks other than those providing essential services in the national capital under the fourth stage of GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan). The government also announced that 50 per cent of government officials would work from home due to the heavy pollution in the city.
Environment minister Gopal Rai said, “Only CNG and electric trucks will be allowed to enter Delhi other than those serving essential services. The Delhi Government has constituted a 6-member monitoring committee to oversee the same.”
He also said the Delhi government’s offices will run at 50 per cent capacity while 50 per cent of employees will work from home. 500 new eco-buses will be run in the state. He added that a special task force will be formed for the hotspots. At least 33 teams have also been formed to monitor industrial pollution.
“In view of the severe situation of pollution in Delhi, CAQM has directed us to implement the fourth phase of GRAP. In view of this, the restrictions imposed in Delhi from today on are being tightened even more,” Rai said.
There is already a ban on construction and demolition work, but until now some categories of construction and demolition activities were exempted.
The decision was taken after a meeting with the officials of the Transport Department, MCD, Construction Agencies, GAD, Revenue, DPCC and Environment Department, among other concerned departments.
With the implementation of the new restrictions, vehicles other than those used for essential services will be banned in Delhi. Only CNG, Petrol and electric vehicles will be allowed to enter Delhi. There will also be a ban on medium and heavy diesel vehicles registered in Delhi, that are not connected to essential services. Small vehicles with diesel engines that are not BS6 compliant will also be banned.
“Under the direction of the Special Commissioner for Transport, a six-person committee has been set up to monitor these restrictions. Two representatives from the Transport Department, two from the Delhi Traffic Police, and two from the DPCC will serve on this committee. The thorough adherence to these restrictions will be monitored by this committee,” said Rai.
In addition, the government will write letters to the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana urging them to ban the entry of any vehicles that are not connected to essential services into Delhi. They have been asked to plan ahead to divert them to the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways.
“Otherwise, it becomes quite challenging to send them back from the Delhi border. Also, it results in a terrible traffic scenario. Last time, this problem was encountered at the Gurgaon Border,” Rai further added.