SC Refuses To Relax GRAP-4 Restrictions In Delhi-NCR Until Air Quality Index Shows Downward Trend
The Supreme Court refused to relax emergency measures implemented under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to tackle severe air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region till it noticed a downward trend in the air quality index (AQI) level.
Posting the matter for fifth of this month, a bench comprising justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih, said, the Apex Court will examine the AQI levels on Thursday and find out whether there is any downward trend.
The court also noted a lack of coordination between government agencies, civic bodies and the police in implementing restrictions under the Grap-4 in the national capital.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in Delhi and adjoining areas submitted a report to the court seeking that emergency measures be scaled down from Grap-4 to Grap-2 as the AQI yesterday was in poor category.
Paddy Stubble Burning Incidents Drop By 68% This Year
Government has said that, in this year, cumulative paddy residue burning incidents have declined by 68 percent as compared to last year. Minister of state for Environment, Kirti Vardhan Singh informed Lok Sabha in a written reply that, in the year 2022, more than 53,000 cases of stubble burning were recorded in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, NCR districts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. This year 12 thousand 530 incidents are reported in these states. He also stated that fines on the farmers burning stubble have been doubled this year.
