Delhi air pollution: SC questions govt over trucks entering national capital

The Supreme Court on Friday raised serious concerns about the enforcement of measures to curb air pollution in Delhi, particularly the entry of trucks into the national capital, which is banned under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih observed, “It is very difficult for us to assume that entry of trucks in Delhi has been stopped.” The court proposed directing the Centre to deploy police personnel at all 113 entry points, including 13 designated for trucks, to enforce the ban. The bench also sought a compliance report by November 25, when the matter will be heard next.

The court’s remarks follow its earlier directives on November 18, where it underscored the constitutional duty of all states to ensure citizens live in a pollution-free environment. It mandated the continuation of GRAP Stage 4 restrictions until the Air Quality Index (AQI) dropped below 450.

Delhi’s air quality has deteriorated sharply, with the daily AQI rising to 457 on Sunday evening and escalating to 485, categorised as “severe plus,” by Monday morning, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). GRAP, implemented across the National Capital Region (NCR), classifies air quality into four stages: ‘poor’ (AQI 201-300), ‘very poor’ (AQI 301-400), ‘severe’ (AQI 401-450), and ‘severe plus’ (AQI >450).

During its review of the situation earlier this week, the Supreme Court criticised the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for delaying the implementation of GRAP Stages 3 and 4. The bench noted that the CAQM’s approach of waiting for AQI improvement before initiating stringent measures was “completely wrong.” It emphasised that preventive actions must be taken immediately when AQI levels approach the threshold limits, rather than waiting for conditions to worsen.

The court has directed all Delhi-NCR states to intensify enforcement of GRAP Stage 4 measures, including the prohibition of non-essential construction activities, the closure of industries not running on cleaner fuels, and restrictions on vehicular movement, particularly heavy vehicles. The hearing on Delhi’s air pollution crisis is ongoing.

(With inputs from PTI)