Last update:November 18, 2024, 11:36 am IST

The Supreme Court was hearing a plea on urgent measures to tackle air pollution in Delhi and nearby areas. The court had earlier expressed concern over the violation of the firecracker ban.

An anti-smog gun is used to spray water droplets to reduce air pollution in Delhi (Photo: PTI)

The Supreme Court on Monday heard a plea seeking enforcement of measures to reduce air pollution in the national capital and surrounding areas. The hearing was conducted by a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih.

As Delhi’s air quality worsened to the “severe plus” category on Monday, with the city recording an air quality index (AQI) of 484, the National Capital Region (NCR) Air Quality Management Commission and adjoining areas ordered the implementation of the Plan of Graded Response Action (GRAP) Stage IV Restrictions in Delhi-NCR.

However, the court came down heavily on the Delhi lawyer, asking why the mechanism has not been invoked yet.

Here’s what the committee asked and told Delhi councilors about rising pollution in Delhi.

• Why was the GRAP mechanism not invoked? Once the AQI reaches 300 to 400, GRAP should be invoked. How can you risk such matters and delay your GRAP applicability?
• Once the AQI crosses 401, stage 3 must be invoked and it happened on November 13th.
• While the adviser told the bank that he anticipated air pollution would be reduced, the bank asked: “Can you take those kinds of risks? On a lighter note, can anyone rely on the India Meteorological Department? Who is the advisor to the Delhi government? Who monitors the implementation of these measures?”
• We want to know what steps the government has taken. Let us know how you implement it, we make it very clear that you will not go below stage 4 without our permission, even if the AQI drops below 300, this is the order we propose.

The matter was then posted to be dealt with at the end of the board.

DELHI AIR POLLUTION – WHAT HAPPENED DURING PREVIOUS HEARINGS

On November 14, the apex court agreed to list the plea urgently after being told that Delhi should not become the world’s most polluted city due to rising pollution.

The tribunal agreed to list the matter after senior advocate Aparajita Singh, who assisted the court as amicus curiae in the matter, sought an urgent hearing on the prevailing situation in Delhi.

The amicus had told the bench that it had approached the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and should explain the measures taken to reduce pollution.

Earlier on November 11, the apex court had taken note of the violation of its order banning firecrackers for Diwali and observed that no religion encourages any activity that creates pollution.

It asked the Delhi government to decide within two weeks whether to extend the ban on firecrackers throughout the year.

It was said that the right to live in a pollution-free atmosphere is a fundamental right of every citizen, protected by Article 21 of the Constitution.