CREDAI-NCR Appeals Central Government to Lift the Ban on Construction Activities

The Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Association of India (CREDAI), in Delhi NCR, appealed the central body of Air Quality Management (CAQM) to lift the ban from the construction activities as the air quality index has been ranging below 400 (severe category) in Delhi-NCR in last few days.

The responsible body of real estate developers in NCR has submitted a memorandum to the Centre’s air quality panel and argued that as per the norms, Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stages III and IV are invoked when the AQI goes above 400 and 450 respectively but after Diwali, the AQI has been revolving around the range below 400 and hence as per the guidelines, the GRAP III and IV restrictions should be lifted.

The spokespersons of CREDAI met CAQM officials and told that the real estate sector will get severely affected by the construction ban and the sector has already faced “losses and delays” due to the move. Previously, the non-essential construction activities were banned on November 3 when the Centre’s air quality panel imposed GRAP stage III. The GRAP action depends on four stages of pollution: Stage I - 'poor' (Air Quality Index 201-300); Stage II - 'very poor' (AQI 301-400); Stage III - 'severe' (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV - 'severe plus' (AQI above 450).

CREDAI NCR has conversed with CAQM officials and CREDAI officials said, “Currently the AQI is less than 400 after Diwali and hence, as per the above guidelines, GRAP III and IV restrictions are eligible to be lifted and thereafter construction activities can resume with all precautionary measures as are followed on a regular basis. In view of the severe losses and delays faced by the industry we request that restrictions under GRAP III and IV be lifted without any further delay so the (construction) works can be started,”

Secretory of CREDAI-NCR Gaurav Gupta mentioned that, there should be some rigid and rigorous rules to control air pollution but this ban on construction will cast a severe effect on livelihoods of the labourers and workers involved in these activities, and on the other hands, the home buyers will not be able to get their homes on time.

The district administration and other enforcement authorities in Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad and Gurugram have already formed teams to check violations, especially construction and demolition activities.