GRAP Stage-4: Delhi's construction ban isn't really working
Delhi tried to stop all construction recently under GRAP Stage-4 to tackle its air crisis, but many private sites are still running—think Sadar Bazaar, Sarai Kale Khan, Vasant Kunj, and Dwarka.
These ongoing projects are making the city's dust problem worse, even as air quality hits some of its worst levels in years.
What's actually happening on the ground?
Investigations found workers at these sites without masks and piles of sand left uncovered.
People living nearby, like in Dwarka Sector 19B, have had to keep their windows shut just to avoid breathing in dust.
Some work only paused after residents complained.
Meanwhile, public projects like metro lines are allowed to continue—with anti-smog guns and water sprinklers—while civic agencies say they're struggling with too few staff to enforce the rules everywhere.
Why should you care?
If you live in or around Delhi—or just care about clean air—this is a big deal.
Construction dust is a major reason why Delhi's December air quality is the worst since 2018 (average AQI: 343), and it shows how tough it is for rules to actually make a difference when enforcement falls short.