The Supreme Court-mandated Environment Pollution Control Authority, EPCA withdrew the Graded Response Action Plan, GRAP measures, including ban on construction, entry of trucks and enhanced parking fees from across Delhi-NCR as air quality remained out of the emergency category for the second straight day today.<br/><br/>However, measures enforced under the GRAP's 'severe' category including the closure of the Badarpur thermal power plant, ban on brick kilns, hot mix plants, stone crushers, generator sets and use of coal and firewood in hotels will remain, the EPCA said. <br/><br/>Increased frequency of Delhi Metro, fine for inadequate dust control, and mechanized road sweeping and water sprinkling will also continue. <br/><br/>The measures, part of the GRAP, were enforced on the 8th of this month after pollution levels had spiked, hitting the emergency category, accompanied by thick smog.<br/><br/>EPCA chairperson Bhure Lal wrote to the Chief Secretaries of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana this morning, directing them that the measures be lifted with immediate effect as the prevailing air quality does not warrant such tough action.

The Supreme Court-mandated Environment Pollution Control Authority, EPCA withdrew the Graded Response Action Plan, GRAP measures, including ban on construction, entry of trucks and enhanced parking fees from across Delhi-NCR as air quality remained out of the emergency category for the second straight day today.<br/><br/>However, measures enforced under the GRAP's 'severe' category including the closure of the Badarpur thermal power plant, ban on brick kilns, hot mix plants, stone crushers, generator sets and use of coal and firewood in hotels will remain, the EPCA said. <br/><br/>Increased frequency of Delhi Metro, fine for inadequate dust control, and mechanized road sweeping and water sprinkling will also continue. <br/><br/>The measures, part of the GRAP, were enforced on the 8th of this month after pollution levels had spiked, hitting the emergency category, accompanied by thick smog.<br/><br/>EPCA chairperson Bhure Lal wrote to the Chief Secretaries of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana this morning, directing them that the measures be lifted with immediate effect as the prevailing air quality does not warrant such tough action.