Lambasting the authorities over the high level of air pollution in the National Capital and surrounding areas, the Supreme Court on Thursday termed the implementation of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-IV) measures as an “abject failure” saying GRAP-IV measures in Delhi will continue till Monday (December 2, 2024), except for schools and colleges. A Bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih noted that the Court Commissioners’ report showed an “abject failure” on the part of authorities to control trucks and other inter-state vehicles’ traffic into Delhi to implement GRAP-IV curbs in letter and spirit.
Meanwhile, amid escalating pollution levels in Delhi, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has empowered member secretaries of pollution control bodies in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi to take legal action against project proponents and agencies for gross violations of pollution control norms at construction sites.
“We make it clear that all GRAP IV measures except the measures which are modified in respect of the schools will continue to operate till Monday. In the meantime, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) will hold a meeting and come out with the suggestion about moving from GRAP IV to GRAP III or GRAP II. We also make it clear that it is not necessary that all measures which are provided in GRAP IV should be dispensed with,” the Bench said. The SC further clarified that the entry of all trucks, except those carrying essential goods or providing essential services and LNG/CNG/electric/BS-VI-fitted trucks, were banned in the National Capital as per GRAP-IV measures.
The Court also said that the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) will meet and suggest easing the easing of GRAP IV norms to GRAP III or II on December 2. The Court also said that action against officials for ‘ ‘serious lapse’ in implementation of GRAP-IV measures needs to be expedited.
The SC also asked the CAQM to consider implementing a “combination” of GRAP IV and III measures in New Delhi, and the measures have to be put on record for discussion on the next date of hearing on Monday. The CAQM’s submission that show cause notice has been issued to authorities, including the Delhi Police Commissioner, under Section 14 of the CAQM Act, 2021 was also taken into record. The SC said it expects replies to the notice by Monday (December 2, 2024).
On the issue of action against officials for a “serious lapse” in ensuring the GRAP IV curbs, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati said notices have been issued to commissioner of police, special commissioner (traffic), additional chief secretary, transport commissioner, commissioner (MCD) seeking their explanation by December 2. The Bench said the action against officials needed to be expedited. Bhati said the AQI was in “manageable limits” and the court should consider relaxing the norms.
The Bench took note of a media report related to Punjab wherein a land record officer and president of the Sangrur Block Patwari Union, reportedly admitted to advising farmers to burn stubble after 4 pm, to avoid satellite detection.
“We are not sure of the correctness of this news but if it is correct it is very serious. The (Punjab) state officials cannot permit any farmer to take advantage of the fact that at present activities are being detected which take place during a few hours of the day. The Punjab government should immediately issue instructions to all officers not to indulge in any such activities,” the Bench said.
In a recent meeting, the CAQM issued strict directions to strengthen the monitoring and enforcement of orders issued for air pollution control at construction and demolition sites. The CAQM said member secretaries of pollution control boards and committees in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi, as part of the statutory sub-committee on “Safeguarding and Enforcement”, could take legal action against project proponents and agencies responsible for gross violations at construction sites, according to a statement. It also directed the officials to shut down non-compliant sites and recover environmental compensation charges. The CAQM also reviewed the implementation of the GRAP, which prescribes measures to tackle pollution based on air quality levels, and emphasised the need for strict enforcement.
Meanwhile, pollution levels in Delhi marginally increased to 325 at 4 pm, maintaining the air quality within the ‘very poor’ category as the national capital recorded the season’s coldest morning of the season on Thursday with the minimum temperature settling at 10.1 degrees Celsius, 0.2 notches below normal.
The Air Quality Early Warning System said in a bulletin that while air quality will be in the “very poor” category till Saturday, it is further expected to worsen in the days after. The India Meteorological Department (IMD), meanwhile, said that a western disturbance is forecast is likely to influence India’s northwestern regions in the coming days. IMD has also issued a yellow alert for Friday, warning people of a moderate to dense fog in the morning.
The Centre’s Decision Support System (DSS) for Air Quality Management estimated that vehicular emissions contributed 21. 61 per cent to Delhi’s pollution on Thursday. Notably, there is a ban on entry of non essential trucks from other states to Delhi and around four lakh vehicles are off the road due to stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan imposed in the Delhi-NCR.
The contribution of the residential sector to air pollution is estimated to be 5. 697 per cent, industries contributed 5. 325 per cent, construction 3. 175 per cent, energy sector 2. 496 per cent, waste burning 2. 144 per cent, road dust 1.616 per cent and others 1.624 per cent. The DSS provides daily estimates for vehicular emissions, while the data on stubble burning is typically available the following day.
