Supreme Court warns Delhi Government on relaxing GRAP-4 restrictions – The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the Delhi government over the delay in implementing measures to curb pollution under GRAP-4. The court reprimanded and said that it would not allow the removal or reduction of measures to prevent or reduce pollution without prior permission. A bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih said that there was a delay in the implementation of preventive measures under Phase 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) even after the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached dangerous levels in the national capital.
Earlier, at the beginning of the hearing, the Delhi government’s lawyer told the bench that Phase 4 of GRAP has come into force in Delhi from Monday. Under this, heavy vehicles have been banned from entering the national capital. On this, the bench told the lawyer that as soon as the AQI reaches between 300 and 400, Phase 4 has to be implemented. How can you afford to delay GRAP’s phase 4? The court said that the court wants to know what steps it has taken to prevent dangerous increase in pollution levels?
The matter will be heard in detail at the end of the day’s work – The bench said that we will not allow the reduction of preventive measures under phase 4 even if the AQI goes below 300. Phase 4 will continue till the court allows it. The bench said that it will hear the matter in detail at the end of the day’s work.
Strict pollution control measures implemented for Delhi-NCR – Earlier, the Center’s Air Quality Committee implemented strict pollution control measures for Delhi-NCR under the fourth phase of GRAP. The restrictions came into effect from 8 am on Monday. Under this, entry of trucks has been banned and public construction projects have been temporarily stopped.
What’s in the order – According to the order, no trucks will be allowed to enter Delhi except those carrying essential commodities or using clean fuel (LNG/CNG/BS-VI diesel/electric). Light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi, except electric vehicles (EVs), CNG vehicles and BS-VI diesel vehicles, will also be covered under the ban. There will be a temporary halt on all construction activities, including highways, roads, bridges and other public projects.
