Supreme Court Raps Delhi Government Over Rising Air Pollution

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed strong reservations over the growing air pollution in Delhi, urging the government to implement stricter measures to curb the toxic smog that is choking the nation's capital.

A Bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih criticized the delay in implementing preventive measures under stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), saying it wants to know what steps the government has taken to tackle the alarming rise in pollution levels.

The Court told the Delhi government that it will not allow scaling down of preventive measures without its prior permission, warning that stage 4 of GRAP will continue until the court permits it. The Counsel for the Delhi government informed the Bench that stage 4 of GRAP has been implemented from Monday and heavy vehicles have been banned from entering the national capital.

According to recent data, the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached as high as 441 at 4 pm on Sunday and rose further to 457 by 7 pm due to unfavorable weather conditions. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued stricter pollution control measures under GRAP-4, effective from Monday, including a ban on truck entry and a temporary halt on construction at public projects.

The Supreme Court's warning comes as Delhi grapples with the hazardous air quality, which has forced office workers to wear face masks and restricted movement in the city. The Court's remarks are likely to put further pressure on the Delhi government to take swift action to reduce pollution levels.

This is not the first time that the Supreme Court has taken note of the issue of air pollution in Delhi. In recent years, several benches have passed orders and judgments aiming at reducing emissions and improving quality control measures.

The government's response to the growing air pollution remains a pressing concern for environmental experts and citizens alike. As the situation worsens, officials are struggling to find an effective solution to curb pollution levels before they further deteriorate.

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