NEW DELHI: The Supreme Courtroom on Monday expressed concern over the failure of a number of air high quality monitoring stations in Delhi throughout Diwali, observing that authorities can't look forward to air pollution ranges to hit the “extreme” mark earlier than appearing.In the course of the listening to of the MC Mehta case, a bench comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice Okay Vinod Chandran directed the Fee for Air High quality Administration (CAQM) to file an affidavit outlining the steps taken to stop additional deterioration of air high quality within the Delhi-NCR area.
Senior advocate Aparajita Singh, showing as amicus curiae, flagged alarming media studies that many monitoring stations had been non-functional throughout Diwali – a interval when air pollution usually spikes.“There are newspapers after newspapers saying that monitoring stations are non-functional. If the monitoring stations are usually not even functioning, we do not even know when to implement GRAP (graded response motion plan)… Out of 37 monitoring stations, solely 9 had been functioning repeatedly on the day of Diwali,” she mentioned.Calling for pressing corrective measures, the amicus urged the bench to make sure that CAQM submits complete information and a transparent motion plan. She reminded the courtroom that earlier directives had emphasised pre-emptive steps, not reactive ones, as soon as air pollution ranges worsen.Being attentive to her submission, the bench mentioned, “The CAQM is required to position on file an affidavit as to what steps are proposed to be taken to stop the air pollution from turning extreme.”Responding to the courtroom's path, the counsel for CAQM mentioned that the Central Air pollution Management Board (CPCB) is primarily liable for monitoring air high quality information. Further Solicitor Normal Aishwarya Bhati assured the bench that each one involved businesses would file the required report quickly.Earlier, on October 15, the CJI-led bench had permitted the sale and bursting of inexperienced firecrackers in Delhi-NCR throughout Diwali underneath regulated situations, aiming to strike a steadiness between custom and public well being. The relief was allowed solely on a “check case foundation” and restricted to particular dates.The bench had additionally directed the CPCB and state air pollution boards to watch air high quality between October 14 and 25 and submit an in depth report — a directive that now comes underneath renewed scrutiny amid questions over the functioning of the monitoring community itself.
