Supreme Court Slams Delhi Government: ‘How Can You Take Such a Risk?’ Over Rising Pollution Crisis
The Supreme Court has instructed the Delhi government to clarify the measures it has implemented to tackle the severe surge in pollution levels. With pollution reaching alarming levels, the Supreme Court pressures the Delhi government to act swiftly.
Image Source: BlueWillow AI
On Monday, the Supreme Court questioned the Delhi government over the delay in implementing Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) despite the alarming spike in pollution levels in the national capital. A bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih expressed concern about the delay in enforcing Stage 4 measures, even as the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached critical levels.
The Delhi government’s counsel informed the court that Stage 4 of GRAP had been implemented starting Monday morning. These measures include a ban on heavy vehicles entering Delhi. The court, however, emphasized that no relaxation of Stage 4 measures would be permitted, even if the AQI fell below 450.
“The moment the AQI is between 300 and 400, Stage 4 must be invoked. How can you risk delaying its application?” The bench remarked, directing the Delhi government to outline the steps it has taken to combat the worsening pollution crisis.
Stage 4 of GRAP, the strictest level of anti-pollution actions, was enforced at 8 a.m. Monday after the city’s air quality dropped into the “severe plus” category. Delhi Chief Minister Atishi announced on X (formerly Twitter) that all schools, except for Classes 10 and 12, would transition to online classes. Physical classes would remain suspended until further notice, she added.
GRAP-4 includes eight key measures, such as banning BS-IV and below diesel-powered medium- and heavy-duty vehicles from entering Delhi, except for those involved in essential services or emergencies. Construction and demolition activities are also prohibited, with exceptions for critical infrastructure projects like metro rail, hospitals, railways, and defense.
Delhi’s air quality plummeted sharply on Monday, with AQI levels exceeding 1,500 in some areas. The AQI, measured by Swiss air technology company IQAir, categorized the air as “hazardous,” with monitoring stations in Mundka, Dwarka Sector-8, and Rohini recording alarming levels of 1,591, 1,497, and 1,427, respectively. IQAir calculates AQI using data from government monitoring stations and its proprietary sensors.
An AQI reading of 0–50 is considered “good,” 51–100 “satisfactory,” 101–200 “moderate,” 201–300 “poor,” 301–400 “very poor,” 401–450 “severe,” and above 450 “severe plus.” The city’s toxic smog has raised significant concerns, with all monitoring stations reporting AQI levels between 1,300 and 1,600, marking a hazardous air quality crisis.
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