Delhi-NCR;The matter of air pollution in Delhi-NCR was heard again in the Supreme Court today. During this, the Supreme Court made it clear that the restrictions of Grape-4 will continue in the national capital and surrounding areas for the time being. Regarding the opening of schools, the Supreme Court has handed over the responsibility to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The Supreme Court said, ‘Now CAQM will decide further on whether schools should be opened at present or not.
The court said that many students lack mid-day meal and other necessary facilities while taking online classes. Justice Abhay S. A bench of Justices Oka and Justin Augustine George Masih said that a large number of students do not have ‘air purifiers’ at home and hence no distinction can be made between children living at home and those going to school.
The Supreme Court, however, refused to relax GRAP-4 restrictions in Delhi-NCR and said it will not relax the GRAP-4 restrictions until it is satisfied that AQI levels are coming down consistently. Or cannot order others to implement it. Taking cognizance of many sections of the society affected by GRAP-4, especially laborers and daily wage labourers, the bench directed the state governments to use the money collected as labor cess to help the workers wherever there is a ban on construction. Do it for survival.
The Supreme Court also said that from November 18 to 23, the Delhi government violated the GRAP-4 guidelines and allowed the entry of such trucks. On the issue of pollution, the Supreme Court reprimanded the Centre, CAQM i.e. Air Quality Management Commission and asked why there was negligence on 23 points?
What did the Supreme Court say on the entry ban of trucks in Delhi?
In the last hearing, the Supreme Court had given instructions to the police to set up posts at 113 entry points of Delhi and had asked for the recording and details of CCTV cameras at 13 entry points of heavy vehicles like trucks. During the hearing on this today, the Court Commissioner appointed by the Supreme Court said that there were not even barricades at many points and staff were not even seen at many points.
Senior lawyer Gopal Shankaranarayanan told the court that currently AQI in Delhi is at 600. On this the Supreme Court asked to show the commissioner’s report. The Supreme Court said that without seeing the report we can say that there is still no investigation point. The Supreme Court said, ‘We wanted to know whether there are such check posts. Who ban the entry of such trucks?
Arrangements exposed at Delhi’s entry point
On this question of the Supreme Court, the Court Commissioner said that there was no personnel from the Transport Department of Delhi Government at the entry point. Checking was being done there, but how effective it was remains to be seen. He said, ‘We saw all 83 check points. There the policemen were jumping into the middle of the road to stop the trucks. The lives of policemen are also in danger because there is no barricading there.
10 Then the Supreme Court asked, ‘What steps was taken by the Delhi government to inform the people that trucks will not be allowed to enter from 13 entry points.’ The ASG told the Supreme Court that, ‘We have received instructions that when GRAP 4 was implemented, a written order was issued to CAQM on all 23 such points.’
On this, the Supreme Court said that deploying police at 23 points and not deploying them at others is negligence. The Supreme Court asked, ‘Okay, then should we give instructions to prosecute the Delhi Police Commissioner?’ The Supreme Court said that every entry point was covered under GRAP-4. We will ask CAQM to issue show cause notices to all the agencies mentioned here. Along with this, they will be asked to prosecute them.
FIRST PUBLISHED: November 25, 2024, 15:30 IST
