Amid the growing pollution crisis, the implementation of GRAP measures has worsened the struggle for survival for daily wage migrant workers.
As Delhi’s battle with air pollution has reached a critical point, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has implemented various pollution control measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), with Stage IV restrictions halting all non-essential construction. This has left thousands of daily wage workers struggling to make ends meet.
“When work stops, we don't just lose our wages. It's the food on our plates and the little we try to save for our children's future,” PTI quoted Raju Singh, a mason from Bihar.
For construction workers, including a large number of migrants from states like Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh, the city’s pollution levels and construction bans have meant an ongoing struggle for survival.
Many workers are caught in a cycle of debt, borrowing money at high interest to survive when construction halts. As the winter season sets in, these workers face not only job insecurity but also a health crisis. “Working in the polluted air makes it hard to breathe, but I’d rather work than sit idle,” Singh added, reflecting the dire reality faced by laborers.
The seasonal construction bans under GRAP often push workers into irregular and low-paying jobs, further entrenching poverty. Workers have found themselves working as helpers in vegetable shops or taking on other menial tasks at a fraction of their regular income. Women, especially, are hit hardest, as they are often relegated to low-paying, unskilled labor and have fewer opportunities for work.
“The government should do more for us,” PTI quoted Shalini Singh, a mother of two who has been working in construction for years. “Every year, I know work will stop, so I try to save as much as I can. But managing expenses without regular work is becoming harder.”
The situation is compounded by the limited access to welfare schemes for construction workers. A fund managed by the Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers' Welfare Board offers financial aid, but the registration process is cumbersome, with many workers unable to complete the paperwork.
AQI ‘very poor’ for a week, low temperature adds on to it
The national capital’s Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the “very poor” category for the seventh consecutive day on Saturday, with the AQI recorded at a staggering 346. Due to unfavorable weather conditions, air quality is expected to remain in the “very poor” category for the next three days. This prolonged pollution crisis has raised concerns over public health, the environment, and the livelihoods of vulnerable populations.
The pollution levels are being exacerbated by low temperatures, with a chilly low of 9.8 degrees Celsius recorded on Saturday, alongside a maximum temperature of 26.8°C. The capital also experienced its coldest night of the season on Thursday, with temperatures dipping to 9.5°C.
A significant health risk comes from PM2.5 particles, which have been identified as the primary pollutant. As per the PTI report, these fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels were recorded at 153 μg/m3 at 3 PM on Saturday, posing severe health risks as they can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.
Amid the growing pollution crisis, the Delhi Police have intensified vehicle inspections to ensure compliance with Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Stage IV aims to curb pollution from vehicular emissions, which constitute a significant part of Delhi's air pollution. Non-compliant diesel-operated medium and heavy goods vehicles (MGVs and HGVs) have been barred from entering the city, with a special focus on vehicles not meeting BS-IV emission norms.
“Non-compliant vehicles are being stopped from entering Delhi, and we are ensuring strict implementation of the GRAP Stage IV,” Dhal Singh, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Traffic told ANI. These measures are part of the city's effort to tackle the surge in pollution levels, with areas such as Anand Vihar, Okhla Phase 2, Vivek Vihar, and Dwarka sector recording AQI levels above 300, falling under the “very poor” category.
While short-term measures such as the implementation of GRAP regulations help reduce pollution, the need for long-term solutions is highly required now. Suggestions from residents and experts for long-term solutions to tackle the pollution crisis include transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) and adopting advanced technologies to address stubble burning, another significant source of pollution.