The Environment Ministry has empowered the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Control and Prevention Authority (EPCA) to enforce the graded response plan under which measures like, 'car-rationing' odd-even scheme, may be implemented in the Delhi-NCR region if pollution levels touch emergency proportions. "This gives us the handle to respond very quickly. Now it has a legal backing and actions are now very transparent and clear. The emergency measures will be decided on case-to-case basis. This can act as a strong catalyst as the system has been very nimble to address the situation. This is a very important step for public health protection," said AnumitaRoychowdhury, Executive Director (Research and Advocacy), Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

"This is meant for the entire NCR. The institutional arrangement on emergency action for the worst situation is that the EPCA and the task force will evaluate the situation and take a decision on a case-to-case basis and on when the emergency measures should be implemented," she said.

A comprehensive plan, prepared by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), was submitted to the Supreme Court on December 2 last year. The apex court had accepted and asked the Centre to notify it. "In pursuance of sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), the Central Government hereby assigns the task of implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan to the EPCA..." said the January 12 notification.

Greenpeace India also welcomed the move saying it is a "logical and necessary step" and it was high time that this national health emergency is taken up as a serious issue. "We welcome the notification as logical and necessary step. The plan itself is a good first step, but a lot of the actions such as higher parking charges, greater investment in public transport and pollution free mobility, halting garbage burning, strict enforcement of PUC norms and emission standards for power plants and industries - need to be in force all year-round," said Sunil Dahiya, Campaigner, Greenpeace India.

Greenpeace India said once no country has solved its air pollution problems by tying enforcement of standards to wind conditions only and one of the major shortcoming of the plan is that it does not include other thermal power plants in the region apart from the Badarpur power plant. Referring to an IIT Kanpur study, it said that the study has identified 13 thermal power plants within the radius of 300-kilometre of Delhi that need to be regulated to see significant improvements in the national capital's air quality.

"The graded response plan is silent on the need to shut down these plants in addition to Badarpur in case of an air emergency. It is impossible to tackle Delhi's air pollution without looking at sources at large distances from the city, hence regional action plans as clearly pointed out by Greenpeace India's recent report 'Airpoclypse' are critical.

"It is high time that we take this national health emergency as a serious issue and come out with a National Clean Air Action Plan, as air pollution is killing 1.2 million Indians every year," it said.

As per the notification, high level of air pollution in Delhi and National Capital Region of Delhi has been a matter of serious concern and requires urgent measures to address the issue, particularly with reference to episodic rises in pollution levels.

Emergency measures like odd-even car rationing scheme and ban on construction activities will be automatically enforced in the city if level of PM 2.5 breaches 300 micrograms per cubic metre and PM 10 levels stay above 500 micrograms per cubic metre for two consecutive days.

The prescribed standards of PM 2.5 and PM 10 are 60 and 100 micrograms per cubic metre respectively. During 'very poor' air quality, diesel generators must be banned and parking free increased by 3 to 4 times, the plan also recommends among others.