Delhi air pollution: SC flags 'abject failure' in GRAP-4 implementation, warns against 'satellite scam'

TOI News Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Nov 28, 2024, 18:48 IST

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The Supreme Court extended the strict anti-air pollution measures in Delhi under GRAP-4 until December 2, citing poor implementation by authorities. It ordered meetings to consider shifting to lower severity measures and addressed serious allegations of stubble burning in Punjab to avoid detection. Key officials face show cause notices for non-compliance.

Delhi air pollution: SC flags 'abject failure' in GRAP-4 implementation, warns against 'satellite scam'

File photo

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday said the second report submitted by the court commissioners showed an "abject failure" of authorities in implementing the GRAP-4 guidelines.
While hearing the air pollution case, the court also took note of a news report that stubble burning was being allowed by officials in Punjab after 4 pm to avoid satellite detection.
During the hearing, a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih also refused to relax the emergency measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)-4 to deal with air pollution in the national capital.
The court ordered that the strict GARP-4 measure will continue till December 2.

Here's what the Supreme Court said:

The Supreme Court said that GRAP stage IV measures except for schools will continue to operate till Monday (2nd December).
In the meantime, the court asked the CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) to hold a meeting and come out with the suggestion about moving from GRAP IV to GRAP III or GRAP II.
On the report that stubble burning is being allowed in Punjab after 4 pm, the court said "if the report is correct it is serious".
The Supreme Court said state authorities cannot advise farmers to take advantage of the fact that at present activities are being detected which take place during few hours of the day.
The court asked the Punjab government to immediately advise all officers to not indulge in such actions.

Meanwhile, the Commission of Air Quality Management told the Supreme Court that it has issued show cause notice to Delhi Police Commissioner, MCD Commissioner and Delhi transport department for non-compliance of its order regarding rising air pollution in the national capital.GRAP-4 measures primarily focus on limiting the entry of non-essential goods vehicles into the national capital. The GRAP, introduced in 2017, comprises anti-pollution measures implemented in Delhi and surrounding areas based on pollution severity levels.

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