GRAP Rules for DG Sets in Delhi NCR: Stage-Wise Guide

Delhi-NCR is one of the regions in India where air pollution is a major issue. Among these, the GRAP rules for DG sets in the Delhi-NCR region play a crucial role. So, to control pollution during periods of poor air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) implements the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Therefore, it is important to know whether you can legally use a diesel generator now or not. Other than this, is your DG set allowed under the active GRAP Rules? Apart from that, if you use non-compliant DG sets, what fines or penalties could you face?

Whether you operate a business, run a hospital & school or manage DG sets for a housing society. This blog explains the DG set permissions stage by stage. It also discusses what happens if you don’t follow the rules.  

What is GRAP? 

GRAP is known as the Graded Response Action Plan. This is a set of emergency rules that have been established to address the concern of the worst air quality in Delhi-NCR. It is enforced by CAQM (the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas). The GRAP framework is divided into four stages and is often changed according to the air conditions. As air quality conditions become worse, the GRAP rules strictly shift from below to above the four stages. These rules often apply to construction work, vehicle emissions, industrial emissions, and DG, because these contribute a large volume of harmful air in the sky. Let’s take a quick look at the four stages of the GRAP rules in the table below:

Stage	AQI Range	Category
Stage 1	201-300	Poor
Stage 2	301-400	Very Poor
Stage 3	401-450	Severe
Stage 4	>450	Severe+

Why does it Affect DG Sets?

In this section, we will discuss the reasons behind the GRAP rules strike on the DG sets in Delhi-NCR.

Diesel Emissions From DG Sets

Old diesel generators are a big source of worsening AQI levels during poor air quality conditions. They generally release NOx, sulfur dioxide, PM2.5, and PM10, which contribute to the bad air quality. However, a survey in Delhi-NCR indicates that most parts of the region still use DG sets that are either outdated or in need of maintenance.

Why DG Use Matters During Pollution Episodes?

Data shows that the use of DG sets is continuously growing by 1.5 lakh in organized urban areas and around 40k in unorganized areas. This is a big concern for good air quality in Delhi-NCR. Most families use DG sets as their alternative source of electricity when they face a power outage. 

Less Availability of Emission-Control DGs

When the authorities sped up the GRAP implementation, they found that only 20% of DGs had been retrofitted with emission-control devices. You would be shocked to know that all of these were registered in organised areas.  That means 80% of running generators were adding harmful air pollution repeatedly. 

Easily Regulate During Pollution Emergency

You know, regulating the emissions of industries and vehicle fleets takes too much time and effort. But generators can immediately restrict emissions when the AQI level is reached. That’s why CAQM’s priorities focus on DG sets for fast relief of air pollution when the air quality is serious.      

DG Set Rules Under GRAP Stage I (Poor)

In Stage 1, AQI ranges from 201-300, where diesel generator sets are not restricted. Stage 1 is an early sign of bad air. Therefore, CAQM is only focused on stopping general dust and waste management instead of fuel-specific instruments. So let me show you what kind of actions they always take under Stage 1. 

• To remove dust in the air, they use water sprinklers and anti-smoke guns on roads and construction sites. 
• They enforce strict compliance at construction and development sites to mitigate dust in a range of 500 sqm.
•  Nobody can burn waste in an open area because this action releases harmful smoke that makes air quality worse than it does.  
• Commercial eateries cannot use wood or coal for making food, such as in a tandoor.  
• CAQM publishes advisories in general. Don’t use personal vehicles for work; rather, use public transportation. It affects air quality in good ways. 
• Another action they usually take is to regularly check the PUC (Pollution Under Control) certificate of running vehicles. Additionally, take appropriate action against all visibly polluting vehicles. 

Note: GRAP Stage 1 DG set rules don’t stop people, hospitals, schools and industries from using generators.  

DG Set Rules Under GRAP Stage II (Very Poor)

GRAP Stage 2 DG set rules restrict certain DG sets across the Delhi-NCR region. Although generators that are capable of working in dual-fuel mode or are equipped with certified (RECD) Retrofit Emission Control Devices operation is allowed but within fixed capacity limits. Besides, GRAP Stage 2 is exempted for designated emergency and essential services. Apart from that, such as Standard DG sets lacking clean-fuel infrastructure are totally restricted.  

Exempted From the Restrictions

• Travel: Escalators, elevators and travelators.
• Healthcare Sector: Nursing homes, hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
• Transportation: Airports, train services, inter-state bus terminals (ISBTs) and metro service. 
• Wastewater management: Water pumping stations and sewage treatment plants (STPs). 
• Government work: National Security and Defence.
• Telecommunication: Telecom towers and Data service center. 

Capacity-Wise Compliance Rules 

• From 51 kVA to 800+ kVA range generators must be operated strictly in dual-fuel mode (gas-diesel mix) or be equipped with approved/certified Emission Control Devices.
• Those generators have apparent power between 23 kVA and 51 kVA permitted if they are running on dual-fuel systems; otherwise, save for emergency backup use where gas pipeline infrastructure is unavailable. 
• Authorities mandate disincentivizing generator usage in residential societies. They have to ensure constant primary grid power supply across NCR areas with fewer interruptions.

DG Set Rules Under GRAP Stage III (Severe)

GRAP Stage 3 DG set rules do not introduce new guidelines but carry forward all guidelines of Stage 1 and Stage 2. In this Stage, the air quality is very severe, corresponding to a Delhi AQI range of 401–450. The authority says that they impose strict punishments and heavy fines on those who fail to comply, whether they belong to industries, schools, societies, or any other companies. 

What Changes at Stage III is Enforcement Intensity?

• They conduct frequent inspections of the DG sites. If they find someone violating the rule, then they can instantly levy a fine for non-compliance, and the penalty can run into large amounts per site during enforcement drives. 
• CAQM orders immediate shutdown of stone crushers, mining operations, and hot-mix plants in the Delhi-NCR that run on non-clean fuels and power sources. 
• Designated units still run at this stage. But DG sets are strictly banned at C&D sites, particularly those that use unretrofitted DG sets, the same as the vehicle ban that depends on fuel rather than EVs. 

DG Set Rules Under GRAP Stage IV (Severe+)

When GRAP Stage IV is implemented, it means the AQI is in a worse range (AQI >450) of air quality. It is a time when people do not get fresh air, and they suffer from breathing issues. Usually in winter, the Delhi-NCR region experiences worse air quality compared to the overall year. Therefore, the rest of Stage I, Stage II, and Stage III guidelines remain the same. CAQM is just intensifying the scrutiny in the region. 

What’s Specific to Stage IV?

• The authority is fully active in this Stage. They continuously inspect every suspect site, for example, industries, local bodies, and transportation. 
• Pollution boards actively verify DG sets are retrofitted with dual-fuel or emission-control systems. They don’t just issue warnings; rather they also check compliance on the ground.
• Sites caught running non-compliant DG sets during Stage IV have faced penalties running into large amounts, or additional enforcement measures may apply.

How to Check the Current GRAP Stage?

GRAP Stages are never the same; they always shift their order based on the air quality. So we will tell you the reliable source from which you can check the most current report step by step.   

Go to the CAQM Official Website 

The Commission for Air Quality Management publishes GRAP status when it is issued. The report contains complete information such as which stage is active and the exact date it was implemented. Therefore, this is a most trustworthy source for GRAP information. If you would like to know about GRAP orders now, you can visit caqm.nic.in.

Check the CAQM “GRAP Orders” Page

CAQM maintains a record of every invoked and shuffled order, so you can see not just the current stage but also the comprehensive history of when each stage was implemented over the years. 

Delhi Government’s Environment Department Portal 

The Delhi Environment Department is another authentic and reliable website that provides the right information on CAQM’s GRAP orders and advisories on its own site. 

Penalties for Non-Compliance

GRAP Rules aren’t limited to paper notices. Enforcement teams take strict action to enforce the orders after several warnings, in the form of fines, sealing, and legal action against non-compliant DG holders.

Fines 

Fines are the most common charge DG set holders pay for violating the GRAP ban. This fine is imposed to prevent generator use, which contributes to poor air quality when AQI is worse. Firstly, it was issued in February 2024, and after some updates, the environmental compensation charge was implemented across the whole NCR region, and the NCR Pollution Board must follow. This was created by CAQM and followed by the Standard Schedule for EC Charges.

Sealing of Equipment

Sometimes, when the GRAP stage is extended due to severe air pollution across NCR, the CAQM’s enforcement task force inspects the region continuously. If they find a DG set running in non-compliance with GRAP norms, they instantly seal the DG on site. 

Action against Defaulting Industries

Under Section 14 of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021, certain contraventions of the Act, rules or CAQM orders/directions can be punishable with imprisonment of up to five years, a fine of up to ₹1 crore, or both. The actual enforcement action depends on the nature and circumstances of the violation.

Can You Use a Diesel Generator During GRAP?

Whether you can operate a DG set during GRAP depends on the active GRAP stage, the generator’s capacity, fuel configuration, emission-control equipment, the type of establishment and any applicable CAQM directions or exemptions. There is no single yes-or-no rule that applies to every DG set across Delhi-NCR. Always check the latest CAQM order before operating a generator during an active GRAP restriction.

Conclusion

GRAP Rules for DG Sets in Delhi-NCR work in four stages. Every stage shifts from time to time according to the AQI conditions. In a few stages, CAQM enforces DG set operation in industries, schools and societies, although designated sectors have the right to use DGs, such as hospitals, government agencies and telecoms. At the same time, those DG holders that don’t follow the rules in the NCR region have to pay penalties based on CAQM acts.