The Supreme Court has mandated the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to submit an affidavit outlining proactive measures to prevent escalating Delhi air pollution. The directive emphasizes the necessity for authorities to act pre-emptively, rather than reacting once pollution levels become severe.
SC Mandates Proactive Steps for Air Quality
A bench consisting of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, overseeing the M C Mehta case, recently stressed the importance of timely intervention. They urged the CAQM to detail steps preventing severe air quality deterioration. This order follows concerns raised by senior advocate Aparajita Singh, acting as an amicus curiae, regarding reports of non-functional air quality monitoring stations in Delhi-NCR. She highlighted the critical need for clear data and a comprehensive action plan from the CAQM, affirming that previous orders already required pre-emptive measures rather than reactive responses once pollution worsened.
Non-Functional Monitoring Stations Worsen Delhi Air Pollution Data
During the Diwali period, media reports indicated that many air quality monitoring stations across Delhi were not operational. Consequently, only nine out of 37 stations functioned continuously on Diwali, severely impacting the ability to effectively implement the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). This lack of real-time data makes it challenging to assess pollution levels accurately and decide when to enforce necessary restrictions. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) holds responsibility for monitoring data, and Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati assured the bench that concerned agencies would file the required reports.
GRAP Implementation and Green Firecracker Guidelines
The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) serves as a critical framework to control air pollution in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). Authorities implement GRAP measures based on real-time air quality monitoring, with Stage I and Stage II restrictions already imposed as air quality worsened. Earlier, on October 15, the Supreme Court had permitted the sale and bursting of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR during Diwali, under specific conditions to balance tradition with environmental and health concerns. This relaxation was a test case, limited to particular hours during Diwali and the day before, with sales permitted from October 18 to 20. The court also directed the CPCB, in consultation with State Pollution Control Boards, to monitor the Air Quality Index (AQI) in their jurisdictions from October 14 to 25 and submit a detailed report, including samples of sand and water from high-density use sites for analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Why did the Supreme Court direct CAQM to file an affidavit?
The Supreme Court directed the CAQM to file an affidavit to detail the proactive steps taken to prevent Delhi air pollution from worsening, especially after reports of non-functional air quality monitoring stations during Diwali.
Q2: What was the issue with air quality monitoring stations during Diwali?
During the Diwali period, media reports indicated that many air quality monitoring stations in Delhi were not functioning. Specifically, only nine out of 37 stations were continuously operational on Diwali, hindering effective pollution tracking and GRAP implementation.
Q3: What is the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)?
GRAP is a comprehensive framework designed to control and mitigate air pollution in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). It involves a series of escalating measures implemented based on real-time air quality levels to prevent further deterioration.
References
- SC seeks CAQM affidavit on pre-emptive measures to tackle pollution – ETHealthworld
- Delhi Air Pollution | ‘Many Air Monitoring Stations Not Working,’ Says Amicus; Supreme Court Seeks CAQM Report – Live Law
- Only 9 stations active on Diwali: Top court informed of ‘missing’ Delhi AQI data – India Today
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