Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed Delhi’s government and law enforcement agencies to establish police check posts at all 113 entry points of the capital to curb alarming air pollution levels in the city. The move is part of a comprehensive strategy to curb pollution during this critical period when Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has reached “severe” levels with PM2.5 as the main pollutant.
The bench issued several stringent measures to regulate vehicle pollution, which is held as one of the primary reasons for the deteriorating air quality in Delhi. The Supreme Court also ordered the Delhi police and other agencies to have a close watch on vehicles, importantly those using outdated BS-III and BS-IV fuel standards. .
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Full Swing
Under Stage III of GRAP, already in place, different measures taken in the NCR include prohibition on construction activities, industrial operations, and non-essential diesel-powered vehicles. The Delhi Metro has also augmented services to increase the use of public transport and lessen vehicular emissions. Water sprinklers as well as mechanical road sweepers have been kept operational throughout to manage dust.
Schools and Public Health Measures
The Delhi government has closed primary schools and reduced outdoor activities for children in order to shield them from the harmful fumes. Offices have been asked to adopt the work-from-home system and minimize transport-related emissions. The government is also considering increasing the limitations if the high pollution level persists.
Root Causes and Challenges
Vehicular emissions and stubble burning in neighboring states are leading causes of air pollution in Delhi. Despite being pushed on more than one occasion, seasonal spikes remain a challenge. The Supreme Court also rebuked the Punjab and Haryana states for not taking sufficient action against stubble burning and urged immediate steps to curb this problem.
This intervention by the judiciary is decisive in order to resolve the capital’s notorious air quality crisis. Success depends on a lot, though, on toil at enforcement as well as from Public good will.
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