The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed serious concern over the worsening air pollution in Delhi-NCR, calling it a “health emergency”, and deciding to hear the matter on a regular basis. A bench led by CJI Surya Kant said there was no single cause and the solutions must be on a region-specific basis.
Questioning the efficacy of judicial intervention, the bench asked, “What magic wand can solve this?”
The top court noted that the matter should be left to the experts, and should not be taken up on ‘ceremonial’ basis around Diwali. Staring Monday (Dec 3), the SC said, it would hear the matter regularly to explore enforceable orders for immediate clean air.
‘What can we direct?’: CJI makes stern remarks
While hearing the matter, CJI noted how it comes to the court and the matter is not something that be solved in one single day. “What magic wand can a judicial forum exercise? I know this is hazardous for Delhi-NCR. We all know the problem. The issue is what is the solution. We need to identify reasons and … the solutions can be given by the domain experts only. We hope and expect that long term solutions are found,” the CJI said.
“Tell me what can we direct? We issue some directions and get to breathe clean air immediately … .Then we have to see what the solutions can be in each region. Let us see what the government has constituted in terms of committee. This matter is also listed ceremonial way during the Diwali season and …let us have regular monitoring,” CJI Surya Kant added.
In the previous hearing on November 19, the apex court had asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to consider directing schools in Delhi-NCR to postpone open-air sports events scheduled for November–December to “safer months” due to toxic air levels.
Then, the SC had refused from imposing year-round restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Delhi-AQI worsens
The air quality index (AQI) in the national capital was recorded at 349, day after Grap-3 was lifted from across the region. A thick layer of smoke continued to cover the skies as the AQI remained in the ‘very poor’ category as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data/
CPCB recorded the 7 am AQI at 349, while the same at 4 pm on Wednesday stood at 327. Anand Vihar witnessed an AQI of 390, hovering just below the ‘severe’ category, which is above 400. But Wazirpur went worse with an AQI of 406.
The AQI level in Rohini was noted at 400, ‘very poor’ category, Vivek Vihar 400, Nehru Nagar 395, Jahangirpuri 394, Narela 388, Ashok Vihar 388, Punjabi Bagh 377, Mundka 377, DTU 373, Chandni Chowk 371, Burari Crossing 369, ITO 357, RK Puram 356, Sonia Vihar 355, Okhla Phase-2 351, Patparganj 351, and JLN Stadium 350.