The Supreme Court has demanded an urgent report from the CAQM after Delhi’s air quality worsened post-Diwali. Only 9 of 37 monitoring systems at the stations were operational, exposing major lapses in pollution control and data tracking.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India on Monday took note of the worsening air pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR, calling for a status report from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The direction came after the Court was informed that most air monitoring stations in the capital were non-functional during Diwali.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran passed the order while hearing a plea concerning Delhi’s alarming air quality.
Senior Advocate Aparajita Sinha, appearing as amicus curiae in the matter, raised serious concerns over the lack of reliable air quality data.
“There needs to be a report from CAQM on the current air pollution status. Out of 37 in Delhi, only 9 monitoring systems were functioning during Diwali,”
Sinha told the Bench.
The submission led the Supreme Court to direct the CAQM to immediately file a detailed status report on Delhi’s pollution situation, including data from all functional stations and steps taken under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Central Government, assured the Court that the CAQM would file its report on the matter soon.
“CAQM will file its report,”
ASG Bhati said in response to the Court’s direction.
Representing the State, counsel for the Delhi Government added that the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) held crucial data related to pollution monitoring.
“The CEC holds the data; we’ve already filed reports on preventive steps,”
the State counsel submitted.
The Court was also apprised of recent media reports alleging manipulation of AQI readings. According to these reports, the Delhi government deployed water tankers to spray water near air quality monitoring stations to bring down recorded pollution levels.
The Supreme Court has not yet commented on these allegations but noted that accurate and transparent air quality data is critical for policy decisions.
A day after Diwali, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) dipped to the “Severe” category, with several areas recording AQI levels above 450. Experts warned that prolonged exposure could trigger respiratory distress, asthma, and cardiac problems, especially among children and the elderly.
“We are living in a gas chamber,” said a Delhi resident interviewed outside the Court. “It’s hard to breathe even indoors.”
Supreme Court’s Earlier Directions on Green Crackers
The Supreme Court had earlier allowed the burning of green crackers during Diwali in the national capital and its adjoining districts. However, despite the limited permissions, pollution levels skyrocketed within hours of the celebrations.
Environmentalists and medical experts have since urged residents to limit outdoor exposure and, if possible, leave Delhi temporarily until the situation stabilizes.
Delhi’s Annual Pollution Crisis
Every winter, Delhi faces a sharp rise in pollution due to stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, vehicular emissions, and stagnant weather conditions. The latest hearing underscores the Supreme Court’s increasing frustration with the lack of effective, long-term solutions.
“We don’t even know when to implement GRAP,”
observed the Amicus, highlighting administrative confusion and delayed action.
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Case Title:
M.C. MEHTA V UNION OF INDIA AND ORS
W.P.(C) No. 13029/1985
READ ORDER
