Supreme Court Orders Compensation for Construction Workers Affected by GRAP Curbs

The Supreme Court has ordered the governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to compensate construction workers impacted by the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR. Justices Abhay Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan stated that compensation should be drawn from labor cuss funds, even in the absence of a specific court order.

The court clarified that starting in 2024, any halt to construction activities due to GRAP measures will require compensation for affected workers, as per the court's directions from November 24, 2021.

During the hearing, it was revealed that Haryana had compensated 2,68,759 workers in the first phase and 2,24,881 in the second phase of GRAP-4. Furthermore, compensation for around 95,000 workers for the January 2025 GRAP-4 period is currently being processed.

Rajasthan reported compensation for 3,197 workers, while Uttar Pradesh has paid 4,88,246, 4,84,157, and 691 workers during phases 1, 2, and 3 of GRAP, respectively. The Delhi government also indicated compensation for 93,272 workers, with ongoing verification for the remaining registered workers.

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This development follows the court's criticism of the Delhi government for inadequate support to construction workers affected by pollution control measures. The Delhi government was instructed to hold an immediate meeting with the workers' union to ensure proper registration.

Anti-pollution measures include banning construction activities, restricting non-essential polluting trucks in Delhi, and shifting school classes, except for grades 10 and 12, to a hybrid format. The GRAP outlines four air quality stages: Stage 1 (Poor, AQI 201-300), Stage 2 (Very Poor, AQI 301-400), Stage 3 (Severe, AQI 401-450), and Stage 4 (Severe Plus, AQI above 450) to address hazardous air quality during winter. Contributing factors include unfavorable weather, vehicle emissions, paddy-straw burning, firecrackers, and other local pollution sources.