Worsening air pollution in Delhi-NCR: SC to take up the issue on Monday

The Supreme Court will on Monday take up the issue of air pollution in Delhi where the air quality index (AQI) has been in the ‘severe’ category for the last several days.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) 24-hour average bulletin released at 4 pm on Sunday, Delhi’s AQI was recorded at 441, falling in the ‘severe’ category.

Senior advocate Aparajita Singh, who is assisting the top court in the air pollution case as amicus curiae, had on November 14 that the AQI has worsened in the National Capital and that she had 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 had told the Bench – which also included Justice Augustine George Masih.

Pointing out that Delhi’s AQI has been in ‘severe’ mode, she had said, “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 had wondered.

The Bench had agreed to take up the matter on Monday.

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.