The report points out violations such as ongoing construction, waste burning, and industrial emissions. Specifically, it mentions renovation and construction at the residences of senior officials from HUDCO, BHEL, RITES, HAL, and ITPO in the Asian Games Village.
NEW DELHI: A Supreme Court-appointed commission has raised concerns about ongoing construction activities at the residences of several government officials in Delhi, despite restrictions under the anti-pollution Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage 4.
According to a report submitted to the apex court, significant lapses in enforcing these measures have been highlighted.
The report points out violations such as ongoing construction, waste burning, and industrial emissions. Specifically, it mentions renovation and construction at the residences of senior officials from HUDCO, BHEL, RITES, HAL, and ITPO in the Asian Games Village.
Additionally, rampant construction was observed across various Delhi colonies and large-scale projects in Greater Noida, with uncovered construction materials left in several NCR areas.
Under GRAP Stage 4, non-essential construction and the entry of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles are banned. Despite this, factories in Greater Noida’s Site-C were found emitting substantial smoke, and open waste burning was noted in Greater Noida’s Ecotech 1 Extension and Gurugram’s New Palam Vihar Phase 1—both contributing significantly to air pollution.
A commissioner also flagged the lack of CCTV cameras at the critical Delhi-Noida-Direct (DND) flyway and the absence of officials at many border checkpoints. The report stressed the need to support Delhi Police with vehicle inspections.
Describing it as a “problematic issue,” one commissioner noted that once a vehicle is issued a challan, it can continue operating without facing additional penalties for the rest of the day. However, officers indicated that in such cases, they would consider impounding the vehicle.
Additionally, the report highlighted the insufficient deployment of water sprinklers, with only two operating in areas like Siri Fort, Panchsheel, and Kotla, managed by a single driver. It recommends increasing both the number of sprinklers and personnel to control dust effectively.
To address these issues, the report suggests taking contempt action against non-compliant officials and installing CCTVs at all checkpoints for better surveillance.
PREVIOUS HEARINGS
On Monday(18th Nov), the Supreme Court heard a plea seeking the enforcement of measures to curb air pollution in Delhi and surrounding areas.
A bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih expressed serious concerns over delays in implementing the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Justice Oka questioned the Delhi counsel, stating, “Why was the GRAP mechanism not invoked? How can you risk delaying such critical measures?” In response to the counsel’s clarification that stage 4 of GRAP was now in effect, the bench emphasized that the Delhi government must not lower it without court approval, even if the Air Quality Index (AQI) improves below 300.
The bench remarked, “We are making it clear that you will not go below stage 4 without our permission.”
On November 14, the Supreme Court agreed to urgently hear the plea following senior advocate Aparajita Singh’s request, citing the need to address Delhi’s deteriorating air quality. The court noted the city’s risk of becoming one of the most polluted globally and directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to detail its actions.
In a prior session on November 11, the court took a strong stance against violations of its firecracker ban during Diwali, observing that no religion advocates pollution-causing activities. It urged the Delhi government to consider extending the firecracker ban year-round within two weeks. Stressing citizens’ constitutional right to a pollution-free environment under Article 21, the bench called for decisive actions to protect public health.
