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Vehicles Choke Delhi: SC Demands Urgent Action
10 Nov
Summary
- Supreme Court demands immediate action on Delhi's vehicular emissions.
- Vehicular pollution identified as a major contributor to NCR's air quality.
- Authorities must explain vehicle regulation and emission standard enforcement.
The Supreme Court has demanded "urgent and immediate intervention" concerning Delhi-NCR's deteriorating air quality, with vehicular emissions now identified as a growing concern. The court directed Delhi and neighboring states—Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh—to explain how they regulate vehicle entry, enforce emission standards, and remove polluting vehicles from roads.
Authorities have been asked to disclose mechanisms for identifying non-compliant vehicles, enforcing Pollution Under Control (PUC) certifications, and preventing the operation of overage vehicles. They must also provide data on vehicle inspections, challans, and inter-state coordination. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) previously identified vehicular emissions as the largest pollution source in NCR.
This intervention follows an assessment showing a decline in stubble burning but a "sharp increase in issues attributable to vehicular emissions." The court noted the cumulative burden of traffic from within and outside state boundaries. Separate hearings are scheduled for vehicular emissions, green cover, construction pollution, and waste management, with vehicular emissions to be heard on November 23.
The court's order comes after a polluted Diwali, with air quality monitoring stations experiencing data disruptions. Previous efforts like traffic restrictions were questioned for their effectiveness. The bench highlighted bumper-to-bumper traffic as a significant concern in Delhi and surrounding cities.
