New Delhi:
GRAP-IV, or the fourth stage of anti-pollution measures in effect for Delhi and the National Capital Region, will remain in force for the next 72 hours, the Supreme Court said Friday, with the AQI in the city and surrounding areas at 371, or still in the ‘very poor’ category, this morning.
The court also underlined its intention to retain control of dropping down a level, or even two, in the GRAP, or Graded Response Action Plan, hierarchy; Justice Abhay S Oka said, “What we are suggesting is this… (next) Monday we will examine compliance (of its orders by the Delhi government)… and then we will consider whether to bring it down from GRAP-IV to GRAP-II.”
On Monday the court said GRAP-IV would remain in place even if Delhi’s AQI were to fall below 450, the threshold to enforce fourth stage recommendations. The court had earlier criticised the Delhi government for failing to react quickly enough as air quality in the city deteriorated.
“Why did we wait for the AQI to cross 300? How could you take such a risk?” the bench of Justice Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih thundered. This was days after the Delhi government invoked GRAP-III recommendations hours after saying he would not, at this stage.
The Supreme Court – which hears cases and laments about Delhi’s air quality every year – has been just as critical this year, particularly after the post-Diwali deterioration that is, again, an annual and predictable worsening of AQI after many in the city flout the ban on firecrackers.
In an earlier hearing the court bemoaned the bursting of firecrackers and came down heavily on the government and police, saying “no religion encourages any activity which creates pollution”.
The judges then held the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the cops responsible for lax implementation of that ban on firecrackers, calling their attempts to explain “eyewash”.
In the past week Delhi has woken up daily to frightening blankets of toxic smog (smoke + fog) covering the city, prompting repeated warnings from health experts about increased respiratory illnesses.
The usual range of ‘anti-pollution’ measures have kicked in – staggered office timings, online classes for schools and colleges, and restrictions on older automobiles.