Delhi traffic police check at Delhi Noida Border as BS III Petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles are restricted in the National Capital, on Monday.
Delhi traffic police check at Delhi Noida Border as BS III Petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles are restricted in the National Capital, on Monday.

In response to the worsening the air quality index (AQI), as in the national capital area of Delhi (NCR), the Supreme Court on Monday ordered that stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to cope with the emergent situation be implemented until further instructions.

“We make it clear that until further orders are issued by this court, the commencement of phase 4 is going to proceed even if the AQI score falls below 450,” a bench of Justices A S Oka and D G Masih stated.

The court ordered “all governments in the NCR areas to strictly carry out stage IV of GRAP.” All states will promptly establish teams to oversee the implementation of activities necessary under Stage IV.” The court also ordered states in the Delhi-NCR region to immediately suspend physical education sessions for students in grades K-12.

The bench, which was hearing a plea seeking directives to impose measures to combat poor air quality, also expressed dissatisfaction with the Commission for Air Quality Management’s (CAQM) attitude to dealing with the problem in the NCR and surrounding areas. The court stated that Stage III of the GRAP is activated when the daily AQI levels are between 401 and 450. However, the court stated that the minutes from a meeting of the CAQM subcommittee on GRAP revealed that the AQI surpassed 401 on November 13.

The court ruled that instead of immediately mandating the implementation of GRAP Stage III, the CAQM ought to have decided that Stage III should go into effect on November 14. The court also noted that the CAQM had used a similar approach to the execution of Stage IV.

Due to severe air quality conditions, the CAQM subcommittee has decided to execute Stage IV of the Graded Responding Action Plan (GRAP) for Delhi-NCR beginning Monday. Stage IV restrictions include halting construction and demolition operations that produce dust.

The Supreme Court stated, “Order dated Friday, November 17, 2024, notes that AQI crossed 450 at 6 p.m.” However, the direction was sent to implement stage IV beginning today (Monday).”