Relaxed curbs over air pollution to continue till further orders: SC
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday extended the relaxation of stringent GRAP-4 (Graded Response Action Plan) curbs, aimed at controlling severe air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region, to Stage 2 until further orders. A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih, while hearing a series of petitions related to air pollution, also directed the Centre to consider appointing top experts in the fields of environment, agriculture, and other related disciplines to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), possibly in advisory roles.
The Delhi government informed the bench that it had imposed a ban on firecrackers until January, with plans to implement a round-the-year ban, which will soon be notified. The court ordered the NCR states to submit their decisions on enforcing this year-round firecracker ban, highlighting its importance not only in curbing air pollution but also in reducing noise pollution. The ban will extend to the sale, manufacture, storage, and use of firecrackers.
In response to concerns about air quality management, the bench approved additional measures for the CAQM to adopt, such as mechanised road sweeping, controlled traffic movement, and improved dust disposal—measures previously part of Stage 3 of GRAP, now incorporated into Stage 2. However, the court made it clear that it did not want any retired judges on the CAQM, even in advisory roles, to avoid potential conflicts of interest, stressing the need for top experts in various fields instead.
The bench also directed the Delhi and NCR states to ensure that construction workers, who had lost income due to the air pollution curbs from November 18 to December 5, were paid subsistence allowances. Senior advocate Shadan Farasat, representing the Delhi government, stated that 90,000 workers had received Rs 8,000 each, with an additional 20,000 workers registering for support. The court instructed the governments to identify all affected workers and submit a compliance affidavit by January 3, 2025, and reiterated that it would monitor the implementation until all eligible workers had been compensated.
The Supreme Court will next review the implementation of measures related to the firecracker ban, solid waste management, and open-air garbage burning on December 19. It will also set timelines for addressing other pollution-related issues raised by the CAQM.
The court had earlier relaxed the GRAP-4 curbs to Stage 2 on December 5, following an improvement in air quality. However, it reiterated that Stage 3 curbs would be reintroduced if the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeded 350, and Stage 4 measures would be implemented if the AQI crossed 400.
The Supreme Court also noted that the region faces recurring air pollution issues between October and December each year and called for a comprehensive, permanent solution. It cited the lack of coordination among various stakeholders, including the Delhi government, Delhi Police, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, as a significant barrier to the effective implementation of pollution control measures.
