Delhi, November 18, 2024: The Supreme Court on Monday strongly criticised the Delhi government for delays in enforcing stringent anti-pollution measures under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), warning that no relaxation of these measures would be allowed without prior approval from the court.
A bench led by Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih highlighted the urgency, given the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi has consistently hovered in the hazardous zone. The court questioned the delay in activating GRAP-4, which mandates severe restrictions when AQI exceeds 400.
“When AQI is between 300 and 400, Stage 4 should be initiated without delay. Delays endanger public health,” the bench remarked.
The Delhi government informed the court that GRAP-4 was implemented on Monday, including restrictions such as a ban on the entry of heavy vehicles into the capital. However, the court emphasised that Stage 4 must remain active even if AQI dips below 450, and any relaxation would require judicial clearance.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had announced GRAP-4 measures on Sunday, enforcing them from 8 am Monday. These include halting construction at public projects and banning non-essential trucks unless they run on cleaner fuels like LNG, CNG, or BS-VI diesel.
Delhi’s pollution levels worsened over the weekend, with AQI hitting 457 on Sunday evening due to adverse weather conditions. The Supreme Court is also reviewing a plea seeking immediate action to mitigate air pollution, reiterating that the right to a pollution-free environment is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Further discussions on the matter are expected later in the day as the court seeks a detailed report on measures taken by authorities to combat the crisis.
