The Supreme Court of India, on Thursday, upheld the continuation of the most stringent anti-pollution measures under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for Delhi until December 2nd. The decision comes after a bench, including Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih, reviewed a concerning report that highlighted significant lapses in the enforcement of these critical environmental protections.
During the proceedings, the court pointed out a “complete failure” in the implementation of GRAP IV, which prompted the extension of these measures. However, it provided a slight modification for schools, allowing them to operate in a hybrid mode to reduce exposure to hazardous air conditions for children.
The court also indicated that the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is tasked with assessing the current air quality and proposing a possible de-escalation to GRAP III or II, depending on improvements in the air quality index (AQI). Justice Oka emphasized the need for continuous monitoring and dynamic response based on comprehensive AQI data that has been tracked since 2018.
In an alarming revelation, the court addressed a media report claiming that agricultural officials in Punjab were advising farmers to burn stubble post-4 PM to avoid satellite detection. The bench expressed severe concerns about these allegations, urging the Punjab government to take immediate and strict actions to prevent such practices, which contribute significantly to the region’s air pollution.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati represented the government, highlighting efforts such as directing neighboring states to manage traffic flow to mitigate vehicular contributions to Delhi’s pollution. She reiterated the importance of real-time AQI data in guiding the actions under GRAP.
GRAP, introduced in 2017, is designed to combat air pollution in a phased manner, with Stage IV being the most severe, involving measures like banning the entry of trucks carrying non-essential goods and other restrictions aimed at quickly reducing the particulate matter in the air.
