Calling pollution a “pan-India” issue, the Supreme Court Today (Dec 16) asked the government to submit a list of highly polluted cities. The court said a machinery similar to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), which identifies and resolves problems surrounding air quality in Delhi-NCR, should be created for all states.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court called air pollution a “pan-India” issue and emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to tackle the crisis across the country. On Monday, the apex court directed the government to prepare a list of highly polluted cities.
It also proposed creating a mechanism akin to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), which currently focuses on Delhi-NCR, for all states.
“Give a list of other major cities with the problem of air pollution and whether, for those cities, some machinery can be created. We will expand this issue pan India. We should not give a wrong signal that sitting in the Supreme Court we are only dealing with air pollution in Delhi,”
-stated a bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Manmohan.
The court’s remarks followed a report by one of its commissioners highlighting that anti-pollution measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi were being undermined due to non-compliance in areas outside the National Capital Region (NCR). GRAP outlines specific actions based on air quality levels, but its effectiveness has been questioned in regions beyond NCR boundaries.
“Whatever is banned in NCR is going on in all cities outside it. Where the border of NCR ends, the activities are happening. Crop burning is becoming an issue in other states also,”
-noted the court commissioner, shedding light on the limited reach of current policies.
Acknowledging these gaps, the Supreme Court called upon all intervenors and experts to provide their inputs to the amicus curiae.
“We will have to expand the scope of the PIL to other states and areas outside NCR due to rising pollution,”
-the bench observed, signaling its intent to broaden the focus of the public interest litigation.
The Supreme Court has been closely monitoring the air pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR since November 18. With pollution levels in Delhi reaching the “severe” category last month, the court has consistently underscored the need for stringent enforcement of CAQM’s policies to mitigate air quality deterioration.
On the same day, as Delhi witnessed a sharp decline in air quality, the CAQM reintroduced restrictive measures under GRAP-3. These include a shift to hybrid classes for students up to Class V and a ban on non-essential diesel-operated goods vehicles.
The Supreme Court’s intervention highlights the necessity for coordinated efforts across the nation to address the growing air pollution problem.
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