Sat Nov 23 23:50:00 UTC 2024: ## Supreme Court Slams Delhi Air Pollution Agency for Ineffective Response

**New Delhi, November 24, 2024** – The Supreme Court of India has sharply criticized the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the agency responsible for controlling air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR), for its inadequate response to Delhi’s severe air pollution crisis. For the past ten days, Delhi’s air quality has remained in the “severe” and “severe plus” categories.

The court noted a lack of compliance with the CAQM’s own directives, highlighting the agency’s failure to ensure that its orders are followed by various stakeholders. Justice A.S. Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih observed that the CAQM’s directions, much like the pollution itself, remain largely ineffective. The court specifically criticized the delayed implementation of Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), the highest level of restrictions, despite the severe air quality.

Established in 2020 and formalized by an Act of Parliament in 2021, the CAQM replaced the EPCA. While the CAQM has the authority to issue directions and take action against non-compliance, the Supreme Court’s observations indicate a significant gap between its plans and on-the-ground implementation.

A CAQM official acknowledged the challenges, stating that while past efforts focused primarily on stubble burning, future efforts will expand to address dust and vehicular pollution. However, Anumita Roychowdhury of the Centre for Science and Environment advocates for a more proactive approach, emphasizing the need for accurate pollution forecasting and collaboration with state governments to set and achieve specific, time-bound targets before resorting to punitive actions against officials. She stressed the importance of enabling effective action at the ground level.

The ongoing air pollution crisis in Delhi continues to be a major concern, with the Supreme Court’s criticism underscoring the urgent need for more effective implementation of pollution control measures.

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