New Delhi, Nov 11 (UNI) Congress leader Jairam Ramesh today criticized the government’s heavy reliance on the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to combat Delhi’s persistent pollution crisis, describing it as a reactive strategy that focuses on managing emergencies rather than preventing pollution at its source.
“GRAP was expected to become less necessary over time as year-round emission reductions improved. Sadly, it remains the dominant approach to clean-air action,” Ramesh said in a post on handle X.
He stressed the urgent need for comprehensive, multi-sectoral measures to tackle the underlying causes of air pollution, rather than seasonal or crisis-driven responses.
Currently, GRAP-III has been activated in Delhi, reflecting the severity of the situation, with the city needing to reduce annual PM2.5 levels by over 60% to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
“We need sustained, tough multi-sectoral actions with scale and speed throughout the year — not just in October and November — to bring about real change and mitigate the significant health risks,” Ramesh added.
His remarks come as Delhi grapples with worsening air quality, prompting authorities to implement emergency measures while the public calls for long-term solutions to the toxic air that threatens millions.
