With air quality in Delhi-NCR persisting in the ‘severe’ category, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked GRAP Stage III measures, restricting construction and demolition to mitigate hazardous pollution. The move, while aimed at protecting public health, has prompted developers to call for a more calibrated approach to avoid delays in ongoing residential and commercial projects.
Industry representatives contend that RERA-registered developments, which already adhere to strict environmental standards, should be exempted or allowed under controlled conditions. “Site-specific regulation, where construction continues only at locations with air quality below GRAP Stage III thresholds, can safeguard public health while preventing unnecessary project delays,” said a senior developer familiar with the matter. They emphasised that indiscriminate bans could jeopardise delivery timelines and inflate project costs for homebuyers.
Developers propose enabling low-pollution construction activities to continue, provided compliance with construction and demolition (C&D) waste management guidelines. Techniques such as aluminium shuttering, monolithic construction methods, and hydraulic rebar cutters are cited as less polluting alternatives to conventional practices. Painting and other minor activities, contributing less than 11% to total particulate emissions, could also continue with adequate safeguards.
Concrete batch mix plants located on-site have been suggested to operate under strict controls to minimise vehicular movement and reduce emissions. Continuous real-time air quality monitoring at construction sites ensures that activities can be paused or modified if pollution spikes above safe thresholds. “These measures create a balance between environmental responsibility and economic continuity,” added an urban planning expert.
Nevertheless, some industry voices underline the urgency of GRAP Stage III enforcement. Dinesh Gupta, president of CREDAI Western UP, affirmed that stringent measures are necessary under severe air quality conditions. Developers and contractors are being urged to maintain water sprinkling, debris covering, minimal diesel generator usage, and adoption of eco-friendly energy solutions to further mitigate pollution.
The debate reflects the broader challenge of sustaining urban growth while protecting public health in India’s densely populated metro regions. Experts suggest that policy frameworks incorporating real-time data, pollution-mitigating construction techniques, and tiered restrictions may offer a sustainable solution, ensuring project continuity without compromising air quality goals.As Delhi-NCR confronts recurring pollution crises, a nuanced, evidence-driven approach may emerge as the model for balancing development needs with environmental imperatives, particularly in sensitive urban corridors undergoing rapid infrastructure and residential expansion.
Delhi NCR Developers Urge Site Specific Construction Amid Severe GRAP Stage Three
