An important hearing was held in the Supreme Court amid the havoc of air pollution in Delhi-NCR. During this, the court said that the GRAP-4 restrictions implemented to deal with the respiratory crisis will continue for the time being. Can it be relaxed or not? This will be considered on November 25, a bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih expressed displeasure over the way GRAP-4 restrictions were implemented. The court expressed surprise at the delay in decisions related to banning the entry of trucks carrying non-essential goods into Delhi.
That the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was first implemented in 2017. Through this, anti-air pollution measures are implemented in the capital and its surrounding areas according to the severity of the situation.
Four different stages of air quality under GRAP
Stage-1: Poor (AQI 201-300)
Stage-2: Very Poor (AQI 301-400)
Stage-3: Severe (AQI 401-450)
Stage-4: Severe Plus (AQI above 450)
The Supreme Court appointed 13 lawyers as court commissioners to visit various entry points of Delhi to check whether restrictions on entry of trucks have been implemented or not. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati told the bench that pollution levels have reduced in the last two days. The AQI level is now under GRAP-2 stage. On Friday, the total AQI in Delhi was recorded at 373 and it remained in the very poor category.
Earlier on November 18, the apex court had directed all Delhi-NCR states to immediately constitute teams to strictly enforce the anti-pollution GRAP 4 restrictions. The court had made it clear that the restrictions will continue till further orders. During the hearing on Friday, the bench was told that the GRAP-4 restrictions implemented have also had an adverse effect. The bench said that the consequences of GRAP-4 are very serious and it will have an adverse effect on many sections of the society. Therefore, the apex court will decide on November 25 whether the restrictions imposed under GRAP-4 should be relaxed or not?
The court also considered the issue of pollution caused by trucks entering the national capital and questioned the Delhi government for the lack of implementation of GRAP-4 measures. The bench said that it is very difficult for us to believe that the entry of trucks into Delhi has been stopped. The counsel appearing for the Delhi government told the bench that there are a total of 113 entry points, of which 13 are for trucks. The Supreme Court directed the Centre and Delhi Police to set up check posts at all 113 entry points.
