Today, On 19th December, To tackle rising air pollution, the Supreme Court ordered states in the National Capital Region (NCR) to set up teams to enforce the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The Court also instructed Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to ban firecrackers in the NCR to help lower pollution. These actions are meant to improve air quality and protect public health during times of high pollution. The decision highlights the need for NCR states to work together to address environmental issues.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court mandated that states within the National Capital Region (NCR) establish teams of officials to ensure adherence to the anti-pollution measures outlined in Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih issued this directive following reports of deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR, leading to the reimplementation of GRAP IV.
The court stated,
“We direct NCR states to constitute teams comprising police and revenue officials to monitor the implementation of GRAP IV measures. The members of these teams will operate as officers of this court and will regularly submit compliance and breach reports to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for prompt action.”
This ruling comes as the court continues to oversee efforts by authorities in neighbouring states to address issues such as stubble burning, contributing to air pollution. Earlier, on December 5, the court had relaxed restrictions in Delhi-NCR due to improved air quality, but Stage IV measures were reinstated on Monday as conditions worsened.
On December 12, the Court directed the Delhi government and neighboring NCR states Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to make a final decision on banning the use of firecrackers throughout the year.
Today, the Delhi government informed the Court of its decision to implement a complete ban on firecrackers. In contrast, Haryana announced it would permit only green crackers, while Rajasthan declared a total ban on firecrackers within the NCR region. The Uttar Pradesh government, however, opted against a complete prohibition.
Given the differing positions among the states, the Court noted that a ban would only be effective if all NCR states reached a consensus.
The Court ordered,
“For the time being, we direct Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to impose a similar ban as that which is imposed by Delhi.”
Delhi faces ongoing air pollution problems, especially during winter when air quality becomes very poor. Key reasons for this include:
- Vehicle Emissions: The large number of cars, buses, and trucks in Delhi release harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxides and tiny particles into the air.
- Construction Dust: Building projects and infrastructure work create dust and particles that worsen pollution.
- Factory Emissions: Factories in and around Delhi release pollutants that harm the air quality.
- Burning of Crops and Waste: Farmers in nearby states like Punjab and Haryana burn crop waste, creating smoke and particles that heavily impact Delhi’s air.