Delhi Air Pollution: SC extends GRAP 4 measures till Monday;

Delhi Air Pollution: Delhi, the national capital, will witness continuation of enforcement of GRAP 4 measures till Monday, Supreme court on Thursday said. All measures that fall under Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) 4 will be implemented except for easing of restrictions with regard to opening of schools. The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih, noted “serious lapse” in ensuring the GRAP-IV curbs, as it refused to relax emergency measures under Stage 4.
Meanwhile, the court directed Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) asked to hold a meeting and consider making suggestions on scaling down restrictions from GRAP 4 to GRAP 3 or GRAP 2.
“CAQM will hold a meeting and come out with the suggestion about moving from GRAP IV to GRAP III or GRAP II. We also make it clear that it is not necessary that all measures which are provided in GRAP IV should be dispensed with,” PTI quoted the bench as saying. Restrictions regarding entry of trucks carrying non-essential goods into the national capital come under the purview of GRAP-4 restrictions.
The court asked CAQM to consider the enforcement of a hybrid of GRAP 4 and GRAP 3 measures, if required. Observing the abject failure on implementation of GRAP 4 measures as indicated by a report of court commissioners, the apex court sought response of Delhi and NCR states on violations.
Over violation of court orders in implementing ban on entry of heavy trucks, the Supreme Court ordered the Commission to expedite action against top police, government and civic agency officials in Delhi. The matter regarding dire state of air quality in Delhi will be taken up again on Monday, December 2.
After observing the findings of a media report, wherein officials in Punjab advised farmers to burn stubble after 4:00 PM, the Supreme Court asked Punjab government to take strict action in this regard. If the report were to be believed, land record officer and president of the Sangrur Block Patwari Union admitted to advising farmers to avoid satellite detection. On Thursday, Delhi reported an AQI of 325 at 5:30 PM which falls in “very poor” category, as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).