Delhi air pollution: Supreme Court says GRAP-IV measures to continue till December 2 except for schools and colleges 

The CAQM will meet on December 2 and suggest easing the easing of GRAP IV norms, the Supreme Court said

The Supreme Court on Thursday (November 28, 2024) said that the graded response action plan, GRAP-IV, measures in Delhi will continue till Monday (December 2, 2024) except for schools and colleges.

The top court also said that the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) will meet and suggest easing the easing of GRAP IV norms to GRAP III or II on December 2. The court also asked the CAQM to consider implementing a “combination” of GRAP IV and III measures New Delhi and the measures have to be put on record for discussion on the next date of hearing on Monday (December 2, 2024).

The Supreme Court noted that the Court Commissioners’ report showed an “abject failure” on the part of authorities to control trucks and other inter-state vehicles’ traffic into Delhi during the GRAP IV restrictions.

The CAQM’s submission that show cause notice has been issued to authorities, including the Delhi Police Commissioner, under Section 14 of the CAQM Act, 2021 was also taken into record. The court said it expects replies to the notice by Monday (December 2, 2024).

The Supreme Court noted that its November 25 order to provide building workers, during construction ban necessitated by GRAP IV, weekly subsistence allowance from the labour cess funds collected for their welfare was not implemented by the States. The Bench reiterated that the welfare measures should be implemented and compliance reported on Monday (December 2, 2024).

The court also mooted the 24-hour data collection and reportage on stubble burning. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati assured the Bench that the ISRO is working on a new protocol.

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The court took note of a media report that authorities in Punjab are advising farmers to burn crop residue after 4p.m. to avoid satellite surveillance. The court noted it does not know if the news is correct, but if so, it is a “very serious” issue and farmers cannot be allowed to take advantage of such situations.

The court took note of an amicus curiae and Court Commissioners’ submissions that heavy trucks ought to be stopped at NCR borders and not allowed into Delhi limits. The amicus curiae submitted that the trucks entered Delhi limits, stopped, took a U-turn and went back, which it said, was a “self-defeating turn of events as far air pollution prevention measures were concerned.”

The court clarified that the ban on trucks would not apply to trucks carrying essential commodities, vehicles like ambulances which provide essential services and all LNG, CNG, electric, BS-VI diesel vehicles.

Published - November 28, 2024 05:02 pm IST