Supreme Court Seeks Nationwide Solution to Air Pollution
Supreme Court Eyes Nationwide Solution to Air Pollution Crisis
Washington D.C. – The Supreme Court is taking a broader look at the nation’s air pollution problem, calling for a nationwide approach to combatting the issue.
The court’s decision comes after a commissioner reported that restrictions under Delhi’s Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) were proving ineffective because anti-pollution measures weren’t being enforced in cities outside the national capital region.
“Whatever is banned in NCR is going on in all cities outside it,” the commissioner stated. “Where the border of NCR ends, the activities are happening. Crop burning is becoming an issue in other states also.”
Responding to these concerns, the Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Manmohan, emphasized the need for a pan-India solution.”Give a list of other major cities with the problem of air pollution and whether, for those cities, some machinery can be created,” the justices instructed. ”We will expand this issue pan India. We should not give a wrong signal that sitting in the Supreme Court we are only dealing with air pollution in Delhi.”
The court’s move signals a potential expansion of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), currently focused on Delhi-NCR, to encompass other states grappling with severe air pollution.
This decision follows the Supreme Court’s ongoing monitoring of the air pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR as November. With pollution levels reaching alarming “severe” levels last month, the court has been actively involved in ensuring the effective implementation of CAQM’s anti-pollution policies.
On Monday, as air quality plummeted again, CAQM reinstated stricter measures under GRAP-3. These measures include shifting classes up to fifth grade to a hybrid model and banning non-essential diesel-operated goods vehicles.
The Supreme Court’s call for a nationwide strategy underscores the urgency of addressing air pollution as a national health and environmental crisis.
Nationwide Solutions Needed to Combat India’s Air Pollution Crisis: Supreme Court
New Delhi: In a major advancement, the Supreme Court has called for a nationwide approach to tackle India’s escalating air pollution crisis. this comes after concerns were raised that anti-pollution measures implemented under Delhi’s Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) were proving ineffective due to a lack of enforcement in cities outside the National Capital Region (NCR).
“Whatever is banned in NCR is going on in all cities outside it,” a commissioner appointed by the court reported. The commissioner highlighted that activities banned in Delhi, like crop burning, are becoming prevalent in othre states, underlining the need for a broader, pan-India solution.
Responding to these concerns, a Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Manmohan, directed authorities to explore expanding the scope of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). currently focused on the delhi-NCR region, the CAQM could perhaps be empowered to address air pollution issues in other major cities across the country.
“Give a list of other major cities with the problem of air pollution and whether, for those cities, some machinery can be created,” the justices instructed. “We will expand this issue pan India. We should not give a wrong signal that sitting in the Supreme Court we are only dealing with air pollution in Delhi.”
This development follows the Supreme Court’s ongoing scrutiny of the air pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR. As the capital experienced alarming “severe” air quality levels in November, the court has actively monitored the implementation of CAQM’s anti-pollution policies.
With air quality again deteriorating this week, the CAQM has reinstated stricter measures under GRAP, including shifting classes up to fifth grade to a hybrid learning model and banning non-essential diesel-operated goods vehicles.
The Supreme Court’s call for a nationwide strategy underscores the gravity of the air pollution crisis in India, acknowledging it as a national health and environmental emergency demanding thorough and collaborative solutions.