Partial impact of GRAP IV norms on industry in NCR

The NCR has seen partial effect of the imposition of GRAP IV norms on industrial and commercial activities due to curtailment on movement of diesel-operated goods trucks and BS- 4 emission norms vehicles in the region.

Of around 40,000 trucks registered in the district, around 20 per cent of the vehicles have come to halt due to the implementation of pollution norms in the NCR, claim sources in the Transport sector. Many industries that are dependent on them for supplying their material to the National Capital or NCR have either stopped or diverted the supply and dispatch of the raw and finished goods. The movement of non-essential goods and commercial vehicles has been banned inside Delhi after the implementation of the stage four of GRAP from Monday.

“We have instructed our agencies and partners in other states to halt the loading of material in the trucks meant to deliver in Delhi for an indefinite period,” says Suresh Kumar Sharma, president , district unit of Trucks Operators Association. “Several trucks have been halted in the Transport Nagar here in wake of the GRAP IV provisions,’’ he said.

Though the movement of trucks carrying goods in other parts of the NCR is on, sources said their activity may also come under the scanner if the authorities concerned implement measures strictly in all parts of the NCR. “The ban on entry of commercial vehicles or trucks into the National Capital is likely to have a little effect as the supply of finished goods or raw material may not be possible with the trade partners based in Delhi,’’ says SC Garg, an entrepreneur here.

However, Rajiv Chawla, president, IAMSME (Integrated Association of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises of India) claimed that imposition of GRAP norms did not have much effect in cities like Faridabad and Gurugram, or other parts of the state. He said the movement of trucks was banned in Delhi only while no such restrictions were imposed in the NCR region.

However, Yashpal Yadav, spokesperson of the Police Department, said though the movement of vehicles based on BS- 4 technology or not adhering to BS- 6 emission norms stands were banned in the region, he said the police had launched a drive to issue challans to vehicles not complying with GRAP IV rules or those violating pollution norms.