Delhi Air Pollution: Supreme Court extends GRAP 4 measures till Monday; schools to operate in hybrid mode
Delhi Air Pollution: The Supreme Court extended GRAP 4 measures in Delhi until Monday. The Court directed the CAQM to consider scaling down to GRAP 3 or 2. Schools will continue to operate in hybrid mode, which is an exception to GRAP 4 measures, as mandated by the apex court.
Delhi Air Pollution: Delhi, the national capital, will witness the continuation of enforcement of GRAP 4 measures till Monday, the Supreme Court said on Thursday. All measures that fall under Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) 4 will be implemented except for the easing of restrictions regarding the opening of schools.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih, noted a “serious lapse” in ensuring the GRAP-IV curbs, as it refused to relax emergency measures under Stage 4.
Meanwhile, the court directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to hold a meeting and consider making suggestions on scaling down restrictions from GRAP 4 to GRAP 3 or GRAP 2.
“CAQM will hold a meeting and come up with suggestions about moving from GRAP IV to GRAP III or GRAP II. We also make it clear that it is not necessary that all measures which are provided in GRAP IV should be dispensed with,” PTI quoted the bench as saying. Restrictions regarding the entry of trucks carrying non-essential goods into the national capital come under the purview of GRAP-4 restrictions.
The court asked CAQM to consider enforcing hybrid GRAP 4 and GRAP 3 measures, if necessary. Observing the abject failure to implement GRAP 4 measures, as indicated by a report of court commissioners, the apex court sought the responsibility of Delhi and NCR regarding violations.
The Supreme Court ordered the Commission to expedite action against top police, government, and civic agency officials in Delhi for violating court orders to implement a ban on the entry of heavy trucks. The matter regarding the dire state of Delhi's air quality will be taken up again on Monday, December 2.
After observing the findings of a media report, wherein officials in Punjab advised farmers to burn stubble after 4:00 PM, the Supreme Court asked the Punjab government to take strict action in this regard. If the reports were to be believed, the land record officer and president of the Sangrur Block Patwari Union admitted advising farmers to avoid satellite detection. On Thursday, Delhi reported an AQI of 325 at 5:30 PM, which falls in the “very poor” category, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
CAQM relaxed the restrictions under Stage-III and IV, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) can now use adopted vehicles including BS IV Diesel and BS III petrol for their personal use.
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Business NewsNewsDelhi Air Pollution: Supreme Court extends GRAP 4 measures till Monday; schools to operate in hybrid mode
First Published:28 Nov 2024, 04:59 PM IST
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