Delhi’s air quality remains ‘severe’; SC to hear plea on measures to curb pollution on Monday

Delhi’s air quality continues to remain ‘severe’ as residents in the national capital woke up to toxic air conditions on Sunday. At 11am, Delhi’s AQI stood at 450, as per the Central Pollution Control Board.

Smoggy conditions prevailed in the national capital on Sunday. On Saturday, the 24-hour average AQI was recorded at 417. Considering the worsening air quality conditions in the national capital, the Delhi government imposed GRAP III regulations on Friday, restricting the use of private vehicles and unnecessary construction works.

According to reports, AQI was above 400 in most of the 35 monitoring stations in the national capital.  As per the Central Pollution Control Board, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe".

The Supreme Court on Monday will hear a plea regarding measures to curb in the national capital. A bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih is slated to hear the plea, as per the Supreme Court’s cause list.

The bench had agreed to list the matter after senior advocate Aparajita Singh, who has been assisting the apex court as an amicus curiae in the matter, requested for urgent hearing looking at the prevailing situation in Delhi, PTI reported. The amicus curiae has reportedly informed the court that the Commission of Air Quality Management should explain measures to curb pollution.

Recently, the Supreme Court criticised the Delhi government and police for poor implementation of firecracker ban during Diwali. While hearing the case, the Court observed right to live in a pollution-free atmosphere was a fundamental right of every citizen, protected by Article 21 of the Constitution. The SC also directed the state government to consider a perpetual ban on firecrackers.