SC to take up air pollution in Delhi-NCR on Monday

As air quality index (AQI) in the national capital continued to be in the ‘severe’ category for the second consecutive day, the Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to take up the issue of air pollution in Delhi-NCR on Monday.

Senior advocate Aparajita Singh – who is assisting the top court in the air pollution case as amicus curiae – told a Bench led by Justice Abhay S Oka that the AQI has worsened and that she has given a notice to the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM).

“Let the CAQM come and explain (to the top court),” Singh told the Bench – which also included Justice Augustine George Masih.

“Since yesterday we have been in ‘severe’ mode. Just to avoid this situation this court had permitted them (Delhi Government, CAQM) to take pre-emptive action. They have not yet taken any pre-emptive measure…Nothing has been done. Why do we want to become the most polluted city in the world before we take action?” Singh wondered.

The Bench agreed to take up the matter on Monday.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) 24-hour average bulletin released at 4 pm on Thursday, Delhi’s AQI was recorded at 424, falling in the ‘severe’ category. It was at 418 on Wednesday in the national capital. Among other NCR cities Faridabad-270 (poor), Gurugram-318 (very poor) Ghaziabad-356 (very poor), Noida-347 (very poor) and Greater Noida-264 (poor) showed no signs of improvement in air quality.

In a post on X on Wednesday, the CAQM said, “Owing to stronger winds, pollutant concentration and thereby the AQI are expected to decline starting tomorrow, and the AQI is likely to return to the ‘very poor’ category the next day.”

The top court -- which has been hearing a PIL on air pollution in Delhi-NCR -- has repeatedly questioned the governments in Punjab and Haryana over their reluctance to act against farmers indulging in stubble-burning that adversely affected air quality in Delhi-NCR. It has also pulled up the CAQM for failing to take adequate measures to curb air pollution in Delhi and adjoining areas.

Noting that no religion encouraged activities that caused pollution, it had on Monday directed the Delhi Government to decide within a fortnight on extending the firecracker ban throughout the year.