Mon Nov 18 10:00:02 UTC 2024: ## Supreme Court Slams Delhi Government Over “Severe Plus” Air Quality
**New Delhi –** The Supreme Court of India today sharply criticized the Delhi government for its delayed response to the city’s worsening air pollution crisis. Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) reached a “severe plus” level of 481 this morning, the highest this season, prompting the implementation of Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The court questioned why anti-pollution measures weren’t enacted sooner, specifically asking why authorities waited for the AQI to surpass 300 before taking action.
The hearing stemmed from a petition urging stricter enforcement of air pollution control measures. Most of Delhi’s 35 monitoring stations recorded AQI readings above 400, with Dwarka registering the alarmingly high level of 499. The severe air quality has prompted widespread concern and calls for immediate and effective action from the government. The Supreme Court’s intervention underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for swift implementation of comprehensive pollution control strategies.
First Piper 